^ 


RE-BEDICATION 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE. 
WEST    END,    1883. 


KE-DEDICATION 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE 


BOSTON, 


JULY  11,   1882. 


THERia     KDITION. 


33  OS  ton: 

PRINTED    BY    ORDER    OF    THE    CITY    COUNCIL. 
1885. 


CITY    OF    BOSTON. 


In  Board  of  Aldermen,  July  17,  1882. 

Ordered,  That  an  account  of  the  proceedings  attending  the  re-dedication 
of  the  Old  State  House  be  prepared  by  the  Clerk  of  Committees,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Printing,  and  that  fifteen  hundred 
copius  thereof  be  printed ;  the  expense  to  be  charged  to  the  appropriation 
for  Printing. 

Passed  in  Common  Council.  Came  up  for  concurrence.  Read  and 
concurred.     Approved  by  the  Mayor,  July  18,  1882. 


In  Board  of  Aldermen,  June  5,  1883. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  on  Printing  be  authorized  to  stereotype 
and  print  an  edition  of  one  thousand  copies  of  the  Old  State  House 
Memorial ;  the  cost  to  be  charged  to  the  appropriation  for  Printing. 

Passed.  Sent  up  for  concurrence.  In  Common  Council,  June  14. 
Concurred.      Approved  by  the  Mayor,  June  IS,  1883. 


In  Board  of  Aldermen,  July  6,  1885. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  of  Committees  be  directed  to  have  prepared 
an  edition  of  fifteen  hundred  copies  of  the  Old  State  House  Memorial,  with 
any  desirable  corrections;  the  e.xpense  of  the  same  to  be  charged  to  the 
appropriation  for  Printing.  The  City  Messenger  is  directed  to  deliver  ten 
copies  to  each  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  to  di.stril)ute  the  remainder 
from  time  to  time  as  the  Committee  on  Printing  may  direct. 

Passed.  Sent  down  for  concurrence.  In  Common  Council,  September 
10.  Concurred.  Presented  to  and  approved  by  the  Mayor,  September 
24,  1885. 


Press  of  Rockwell  and  Churchill,  Boston. 


F" 

73/8 
04    f>(o 


CONTENTS. 


Pkeliminart  Note 

Proceedings  at  Re-dkdication 

Remarks  of  Alderman  Cliarles  H.  Horsey 

Prayer        

Oration 

Remarks  of  Mayor  Samuel  A.  Green 
Remarks  of  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wililer 
Letter  from  Gov.  John  D.  Long 
Letter  from  Com.  O.  C.  Badger 


PAGE 

9 

17 

18 

19 

22 

121 

124 

126 

126 


Appendix  :  — 

A.  Papers  relative  to  Town  House  of  1C57     ....  129 

B.  Papers  relative  to  rebuilding  in  1711  .         ....  133 

C.  Papers  relative  to  Fire  in  1747 139 

D.  Note  relative  to  the  Lion  and  Unicorn        ....  145 

E.  Note  relative  to  Faneuil  Hall 149 

F.  Note  relative  to  Old  City  Hall,  School  street      .         .         .  152 

G.  Report  of  City  Architect 158 

H.     Financial  Exhibit 162 

I.  Extracts  from  the  \yill  of  Captain  Robert  Keayne      .         .  168 

J.      Account  of  the  Fire  in  1747 175 

K.     Painter's  Bill  of  1773 176 

L.      Relics  of  the  Old  House 177 

M.     G.  H.  Moore's  Notes 178 

N.     Reply  by  W.  H.  Whitmore 200 

Index 213 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGB 

Old  State  House,  Washington-street  End  ...  Frontispiece 

Old  State  House,  East  End,  1882 17 

Old  State  House,  Interior  Views,  1883 22 

*01d  State  House  in  1791 63 

James  Otis 70 

State-street  Massacre 82 

*Samuel  Adams    ...........  84 

*Josiah  Quincy,  Jr 87 

♦John  Hancock 88 

♦Thomas  Gushing,  Speaker,  1771 90 

♦James  Bowdoin 94 

Old  State  House  in  1785 95 

Triumphal  Arch  at  the  Reception  of  Washington  in  1789   ...  96 
Fac-simile  of  Order  of  Procession,  in  Honor  of  Washington's  "Visit  in 

J78'J 97 

♦Old  State  House  in  1793 98 

Old  State  House  in  1799 98 

♦Old  State  House  in  1801 101 

Old  State  House  in  1821,  by  Hales 107 

State  Street  and  Old  State  House  in  1826 109 

Old  State  House,  from  Pcmberton  Hill,  Salmon's  View,  1829     .         .  110 

Old  State  House  in  1835,  1850,  1K80 Ill 

Old  State  House  in  1830,  1835,  1838 112 

Old  State  House  on  Eire  in  1832 114 

Old  State  House  in  1876,  showing  Mansard  Roof ,  Signs,  etc.      .         .  IIC. 

Eaneuil  Hall  in  1789 149 

Faneuil  Hall  in  1820 151 

Court  House,  Boston,  erected  in  1811-12 152 

Diagrams  from  Maps  in  1800  .and  1814  showing  Court  House      .         .  154 

Johnson  Hall,  Court  Square 155 

Court  House,  1851 156 

City  Hall,  1856 157 

Architect's  Plan,  Old  State  House 159 

Plan  in  1830,  by  Isaiah  Rogers 201 

*  From  the  M(;morIal  History  of  BoBtoa,  bj  permission. 


PRELIMINARY  NOTE. 


PRELIMINAEY    NOTE. 


The  restoration  of  the  Old  State  House  is  an  event  of 
which  every  Bostonian  may  well  1)e  proud.  The  history  of 
the  building  is  so  indissoUilily  connected  witli  the  most 
stirring  events  in  the  annals  of  the  city,  and  of  the  nation 
also,  that  it  is  a  source  of  peculiar  gratification  to  know 
that  the  ancient  edifice  has  l)een  saved  from  desti'uction, 
and  will  be  handed  down  to  future  generations  in  a  form 
substantially  the  same  as  it  presented  when  within  its 
venerable  walls  "the  child  Independence  was  born." 

The  building  narrowly  escaped  destruction  in  1876.  In 
that  year  the  leases  expired,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  re- 
move it,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  an  obstruction  to  the 
extension  of  Devonshire  street.  The  subject  was  vigorously 
discussed  in  both  branches  of  the  City  Council,  and  re- 
sulted in  a  compromise,  l>y  which  the  portico  on  the  east- 
erly end,  Iniilt  in  1830,  was  removed,  and  the  space  that 
it  occupied  thrown  into  the  street.  The  building  was  then 
re-leased  for  a  term  of  five  years. 

At  the  termination  of  the  leases,  in  1881,  the  question 
arose  as  to  whether  the  Imilding  should  be  again  leased, 
or  whether  it  should  be  restored  to  its  original  condition 
and  preserved  for  public  purposes.^     The  latter  view  pre- 

'For  report  of  heariiijjs,  sec  City  Documeut  71  15,  1881 


10  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   KE-DEUICATION. 

vailed,  !Uid  tlie  i-esult  is  commemorated  in  tlie  following 
pages. 

The  history  of  the  Old  State  House  is  so  completely 
related  in  Mr.  Whitmore's  oratioQ  that  any  further  elabo- 
ration on  the  subject  appears  superfluous ;  but,  inasmuch 
as  attempts  have  been  made  to  throw  discredit  upon  the 
claims  of  the  building  to  be  a  genuine  relic  of  I'evolution- 
ary  and  pre-revolutionary  times,  a  few  words  on  that  point 
may  not  l)e  out  of  jjlaoc. 

Throughout  all  the  changes  that  have  taken  place  the 
Old  State  House  has  preserved  its  original  form  more 
closely  than  anj^  otlier  of  the  historic  buildings  of  the 
country.  The  alterations  that  have  been  made  from  time 
to  time  were  such  as  did  not  afl'ect  the  construction  of  the 
building  to  any  great  extent,  and  the  material  in  it  to-day 
is  mostly  that  which  was  put  in  place  by  the  original 
builders.  The  work  of  restoration  consisted  mainly  of  re- 
moving the  additions  that  were  made  when  the  building 
was  fitted  up  for  mercantile  uses.  Tlu^  new  Avork  placed 
in  the  building  consisted  principally  of  interior  finish,  such 
as  M'ould  naturally  require  renewal  in  course  of  time  from 
the  wear  and  tear  incidental  to  buildings  used  for  public 
purposes. 

For  the  purpose  of  more  full}'  illustrating  this  fact  it 
has  been  thought  desirable  to  present  several  reproductions 
of  old  ])rints  which  show  the  ajipearance  of  the  building 
at  different  times,  and  prove  that  tlie  exterior  form  of  the 
old  building  has  not  been  materially  changed. 

The  first  view  is  that  given  in  Paul  Ilevere's  engraving 
of  the  Boston   massacre,  made    about    1770.     This  is    the 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE   KE-DEDICATION.  11 

earliest  view  extant,  and  is  particularly  interesting  from 
the  fact  that  it  is  the  only  one  which  shows  the  lion  and 
unicorn.  The  view  of  1785,  taken  from  tiie  cover  of  the 
"  Boston  INIagazine  "  for  Jul^^  of  that  year,  gives  a  clearer 
view  of  the  lower  story,  and  shows  that  the  lion  and  uni- 
corn had  been  removed  since  Paul  Revere's  sketch  was 
made.  The  fact  that  an  engravinjj  of  the  buildinir  was 
chosen  to  embellish  the  title-page  of  a  popular  magazine 
indicates  that  it  was  considered  of  considerable  importance 
at  that  time.  This  is  still  further  shown  by  a  view  of  the 
building  being  placed  upon  the  policies  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Fire  Insurance  Company,  incorporated  in  179.5,  a  copy 
of  which  is  herewith  given. 

The  view  of  1801  is  an  engraving  made  for  the  Memo- 
rial History  of  Boston,  from  a  painting  liy  J.  B.  Marston, 
in  the  possession  of  the  Historical  Society.  The  view  of 
1821,  from  Ilalos'  survey,  shows  the  first  extensive  altera- 
tion. The  steps  had  been  removed  and  a  large  window 
substituted  for  the  door  under  the  balcony. 

The  view  of  1826,  from  Snow's  liistory,  shows  that  a 
clock  had  been  substituted  for  a  sun-dial.  Chimneys  also 
appear  for  the  first  time.  They  were  i)robably  built  when 
the  upper  portion  of  the  building  was  leased  to  the 
Masonic  order.  The  view  from  Snow's  Geography,  of  18.30, 
shows  the  alterations  made  when  the  buildino'  v/as  fitted 
up  for  municipal  purposes.  Tlie  upper  balcony  was  ex- 
tended across  the  building,  and  was  supported  by  eight  heavy 
columns,  arranged  in  pairs,  and  resting  upon  a  lower  bal- 
cony. This  view  is  the  only  one  that  shows  the  town-pump, 
which  is  still  remembered  by  many  of  our  older  citizens. 


12  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   HE-DEDICATION. 

Salmon's  picture  of  the  tire  in  18^52,  :iiul  tiio  view  tVoiu 
Bowen's  volume  of  1838,  botii  ishow  the  buildiug  un- 
changed. 

The  view  made  by  Loring,  in  1876,  shows  the  addition 
of  a  Mansard  roof,  and  gives  a  correct  idea  of  the  build- 
ing as  it  appeared  when  given  over  completely  to  business 
purposes.  Shortly  after  this  sketch  was  made  the  1)alco- 
nies  on  the  easterly  end  were  removed  in  order  to  widen 
the  street,  and  the  Ijuilding  then  appeared  as  shown  in  the 
view  made  in   1880. 

Turning  now  to  the  Washington-street  end,  the  earliest 
view  is  that  of  1789,  taken  from  the  "'Polyanthus."'  This 
print  shows  a  temporary  lialcony,  erected  for  the  accom- 
modation of  General  Washington,  when  he  reviewed  the 
procession  in  honor  of  his  visit  to  Boston.  It  shows,  also, 
the  triumphal  arch,  which  was  thrown  across  Washington 
street.  In  tliis  connection  a  copy  of  tiie  programme  of 
the  procession  is  given,  slightly  reduced  in  sm',  from  the 
original  now  in  possession  of  the  Public  Library. 

The  views  of  17!11  and  of  1795,  both  from  the  "Massa- 
chusetts Magazine,"  show   no  alteration  in  the  building. 

The  drawing  made  b^^  Hunt,  and  lithographed  by  Pen- 
dleton, in  1835,  shows  a  balcony  supported  by  heavy 
columns,  and  corresponds  with  a  view  given  in  the  Bewick 
Company's  map  of  same  date. 

A  lithograph  made  in  1850  shows  that  the  columns  had 
been  removed,  and  a  modern  store  front  i)ut  in.  This 
condition  remained  sul)stantially  unchanged  in   1880. 

The  plan  prepared  by  Isaiah  Kogers  in  1830,  when 
the  building  was  adapted  to  city  uses,  explains  the  theory 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE  HEDEDICATION.         13 

of  this  reconstruction.  In  Appendix  M,  Dr.  Geo.  II. 
Moore's  pamphlet  is  reprinted,  adding  many  items  to  the 
history  of  the  building  in  general,  and  criticising  the 
changes.  In  Appendix  N,  Mr.  AVhitinoi-c,  of  the  com- 
mittee in  chai'ge  of  the  reconstruetion,  defends  its  action. 

On  examining  these  views  it  will  be  seen  tliat  the  orig- 
inal lines  of  the  old  building  have  not  been  altei'ed,  and 
that  the  exterior  walls  remain  intact,  except  where  the 
doors  and  windows  in  the  lower  story  were  enlarged. 

Comparing  the  Old  State  House  with  other  historic  build- 
ings, as,  for  instance.  Independence  Ilall,  in  Philadelphia, 
and  Faueuil  Hall,  the  former  has  certainly  the  strongest 
elahii  to  be  regarded  as  a  genuine  relic.  Etting's  history 
of  Independence  Hall  proves  that  th<^  work  of  restoring 
that  edifice  was  attended  by  far  greater  difficulties  than 
were  met  with  in  the  Old  State  House. 

Two  views  of  Faueuil  Hall  are  given.  One  from  the 
"Massachusetts  Magazine,"  showing  the  building  as  it  ap- 
peared in  revolutionary  days ;  the  other,  from  Snow's  his> 
tory,  showing  it  after  it  was  enlarged  in  1808,  or  as  it  is 
to-day.  A  white  line  on  tiie  latter  engraving  indicates  the 
outline  of  the  old  building,  and  shows  that  the  historic 
Faneuil  Hall  was  a  nmch  smaller  building  than  the  present 
one ;  in  fact,  but  a  small  portion  of  the  old  building  re- 
mains ;  nevertheless,  no  one  questions  the  title  of  both  In- 
dependence Hall  and  Faneuil  Hall  to  be  venerated  as 
genuine  relics  of  historic  times. 

J.  L.  H. 


PROCEEDINGS   AT  EE-DEDI CATION. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE. 
EAST    END,    1882. 


PEOCEEDINGS  AT  RE-DEDICATION. 


The  five  years'  lease  of  the  Old  State  House  expired  July 
1,  1881.  In  anticipation  of  that  event  it  was  suggested  that 
the  historic  interest  of  the  building  was  so  great  that  it  might 
be  desirable  to  retain  the  control  of,  at  least,  the  upper  part 
floor  of  the  building  for  public  uses,  and  to  restore  the  whole 
edifice  to  the  appearance  it  wore  a  century  ago.  The  City 
Council,  after  considerable  discussion,  voted  to  appropriate 
the  sum  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  repairs  on  the 
building,  putting  the  charge,  as  usual,  in  the  hands  of  the 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  of  which  Alderman  William 
WooUey  was  chairman  in  1881  and  1882. 

The  work  proved  greater  than  was  anticipated;  but  on 
June  29,  1882,  the  committee  was  able  to  announce  the  sub- 
stantial completion  of  their  labors  (see  City  Doc.  100),  and 
to  invite  the  City  Council  to  attend  at  the  formal  transfer  of 
the  buildhig  to  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  on  Tuesday,  July  11. 
Accordingly,  on  the  forenoon  of  that  day,  the  following  px"o- 
ceedings  took  place,  which  are  now  published  by  order  of 
the  City  Council. 

The  ceremonies  were  held  in  the  East  Hall,  occupied  in 
colonial  times  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  afterwards  by 
the  State  Senate,  and  from  1830  to  1840  by  the  Board  of 
Aldermen.       Portraits   of    the   old    governors,   Winthrop, 


18  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

Eudicott,  Bellingham,  and  Burnet,  were  kindly  loaned  for 
tlie  occasion,  by  dii'ection  of  Hon.  Robert  R.  Bishop,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Senate.  The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 
loaned  portraits  of  Governors  Belcher,  Joseph  Dudley,  and 
Hutchinson.  The  Public  Library  contributed  a  caricature 
of  Governor  Gage,  and  engravings  of  Governors  Powuall 
and  Andros  also  hung  upon  the  walls. 

In  the  West  Hall,  formerly  occupied  by  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  later  by  the  Common  Council,  were 
the  superb  portraits  of  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock, 
owned  by  the  city,  and  Stuart's  portrait  of  Josiah  Quincy, 
Jr.,  the  patriot.  Other  interesting  pictures  and  engravings 
adorned  the  various  rooms.  The  orator  of  the  day  delivered 
his  address  from  the  Speaker's  desk  used  in  the  old  House 
of  Representatives,  and  now  owned  by  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society. 

Owing  to  the  unavoidable  absence  of  Alderman  Woolley, 
chairman  of  the  committee,  the  assemblage  was  called  to 
order  by  Alderman  Hersey,  who  spoke  as  follows  :  — 

Mr.  Mayor,   Gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  Ladies 
and  Gentlemen:  — 

You  are  assembled  here  to-day  to  receive  the 
report  of  the  committee  to  whom  was  assigned  the 
duty  of  renovating  and  restoring  the  Old  State 
House.  The  work  is  completed,  of  which  you  have 
the  evidence  before  you,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  it 
has  been  done  within  the  estimates  and  appropria- 
tion. 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  19 

The  work  of  restoration  has  not  been  accom- 
plished except  by  much  expenditure  of  time  and 
thought  in  delving  among  old  documents  for  evi- 
dences of  what  the  building  was  in  its  early  days ; 
and  it  presents  to-day,  both  as  to  its  exterior 
and  Ulterior,  substantially  the  same  appearance  that 
it  did  in  those  early  days  of  its  history  when  the 
noble  men,  whose  portraits  look  down  upon  us  here 
walked  these  streets,  and  to  the  gathered  citizens 
within  these  historic  walls  spoke  the  patriotic  words 
of  coimsel  that  incited  them  to  deeds  of  noble  daring 
in  defence  of  national  liberty,  and  made  this  country 
a  free  republic. 

It  would  seem  pi'oper  that,  in  dedicating  this  build- 
ing to  purposes  akin  to  those  for  which  it  was 
originally  designed,  we  should  seek  the  Divine  favor, 
r  therefore  will  request  the  Eev.  Dr.  Rufus  Ellis, 
pastor  of  the  First  Church,  to  ask  a  blessing.  It 
would  seem  ajjpropriate  and  fitting  that  he,  the  pas- 
tor of  the  church  which  in  its  early  days  was  located 
in  this  unmediate  vicinity,  should  thus  officiate.  You 
will  please  give  your  attention  while  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ellis  asks  a  blessing. 


PRAYER  BY  RUFUS  ELLIS,  D.D. 

O  God  of  our  fathers,  our  dwelling-place  in  all 
generations,  we  thank  Thee  for  our  goodly  heritage. 


20  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

Not  Avithout  Thee  would  we  come  together.  Obedi- 
ent to  Thy  voice  do  we  remember  tlie  days  of  old. 
It  is  our  desire  and  prayer  that  by  these  renewals  and 
restorations  we  may  so  strengthen  the  things  that 
remain,  and  so  bind  together  our  best  and  most 
precious  hopes,  and  our  dearest  memories,  that  we 
shall  grow  thereby  in  all  sweet  humanities,  and  our 
city  be,  indeed,  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hill  whose  light 
cannot  be  hid,  whose  light  shall  shine  in  praise  and 
works  that  are  just  and  merciful. 

We  pray  Thee  that  this  ancient  house  may  be  for- 
ever a  common  possession,  a  common  joy,  and  a 
common  pride  of  all  those  whose  homes  and  places 
of  daily  toil  are  centred  about  it,  and  may  it  be  a 
memorial  to  them  that  they  are  citizens  of  no  mean 
city.  So  may  the  Lord  keep  the  city;  so  may  its 
walls  be  salvation  and  its  gates  pi-aise ;  and  so  for  the 
abundance  of  righteousness  and  love  within  its  bor- 
ders, may  all  the  walls  that  are  builded  by  human 
hands  be  consecrated;  and  may  this  be  to  us  at  last, 
in  the  brighter  and  better  and  holier  days,  that  city 
of  our  God,  of  which  it  is  written,  I  saw  no  temple 
therein:  and  for  the  light  that  shines  upon  all  and 
upon  the  house  may  there  be  nothing  uncommon  or 
unclean. 

We  pray  this  prayer  unto  Thee  in  His  name  who 
bids  us  render  unto  Cfesar  the  things  which  are 
Csesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  which  are  God's, 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  21 

and,  in  the  words  which  He  hath  taught  us,  may  we 
with  one  heart  and  one  voice  say  unto  Thee :  Our 
Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy  name. 
Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread,  and 
forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  that 
trespass  against  us.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation ; 
but  deliver  us  from  evil.  For  Thine  is  the  kingdom, 
and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  forever  and  ever. 
Amen. 

Alderman  Herset.  —  Ladies  and  gentlemen, 
perhaps  to  one  member  of  the  city  government 
more  than  all  others  is  due  the  credit  of  whatever 
success  has  attended  the  restoration  of  this  building. 
I  allude  to  that  member  whose  duty  and  pleasure  it 
will  be  to  address  you  on  this  occasion.  It  gives 
me  great  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  Williajm 
H.  Whitmoiie,  member  of  the  Common  Council 
from  Ward  12. 


ADDRESS  OF  WILLIAM  H.  WHITMORE. 


Fellow-3Ie7nhers  of  the  City  Council:  — 

We  are  gathered  here  to-day  to  re-dedicate  a  build- 
ing already  hallowed  by  the  patriotic  contests  of 
previous  generations.  We  are  to  strengthen  a  link 
in  that  chain  of  our  history  which  connects  those  who 
resisted  the  despotism  of  the  Stuarts  with  those  who 
rebelled  against  the  misgoverninent  of  the  mother 
country,  and  again  with  those  who  so  lately  fought 
for  the  preservation  of  the  unity  of  the  nation.  We 
are  to  remember  that  we  ai"e  henceforth  the  custo- 
dians not  only  of  Faneuil  Hall  and  the  Old  South,  so 
universally  known  at  the  present  day,  but  also  of 
that  older  and  still  more  revered  spot,  which,  after  a 
temporaiy  neglect  and  decay,  is  now  to  stand  pre- 
eminent among  all  the  buildings  in  the  land. 

I  will  endeavor  to  set  forth,  with  due  citation  of 
authorities,  the  claims  of  the  Old  State  House  to  be 
the  spot  most  intimately  associated  with  the  history 
of  liberty  iu  this  Commonwealth,  and  the  right  of  the 
present  building  to  assume  to  be,  not  the  representa- 
tive of  departed  glories,  but  their  actual  and  existing 
monument,  —  never  obliterated,  never  changed  in  any 


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OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  23 

essential  degree,  —  as  fit  to-day  as  it  was  a  century 
ago  to  be  the  glorious  theatre  of  immortal  events. 

When  our  forefathers  established  this  town  they 
found  that  N'ature  had  apparently  marked  this  spot 
for  a  centre  of  the  new  settlement.  A  little  projec- 
tion, of  which  our  State  street  is  the  ridge,  divided 
the  coves  lying  north  and  south.  The  land  reached 
then  as  far  as  Kilby  street  on  the  one  side,  and 
Merchants'  Row  on  the  other.  On  the  north  the 
Town  Dock,  now  covered  by  Quincy  Market  and 
even  by  streets  farther  inland,  reached  to  the  slopes 
of  Copp's  Hill.  On  the  south  a  cove,  occupying 
Liberty  square  and  its  vicinity,  severed  Port  Hill 
from  approach,  except  on  the  line  of  Franklin  street. 
Directly  in  the  range  of  this  point  the  lofty  height 
of  Beacon  Hill  towered  above  the  narrow  plain,' 
through  which  Washington  street  and  Court  street 
were  to  be  stretched.  Along  the  banks  of  these 
coves,  and  in  the  low  lands  between  the  three  hills  of 
Trimont,  the  houses  of  the  little  settlement  were  soon 
closely  clustered. 

Here,  on  the  site  since  occupied  by  Brazer's  build- 
ing, was  placed  the  first  meeting-house,  wherein 
from  the  beginning  the  townsmen  met  to  consult 
also  upon  temporal  affairs. 

In  front  of  the  meeting-house  was  a  lot  set  apart 
for  a  market-place  as  early  as  1634,  and  definitely 
recognized  as  such  in  the  Book  of  Possessions  in 


24  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

1645.  It  was,  as  it  now  is,  the  land  enclosed  by  the 
two  arms  of  the  street,  and  its  dimensions  have  never 
been  lessened.  On  the  southerly  side  of  State  street 
Capt.  Robert  Keayne  lived,  on  the  corner  of  our 
Washington  street,  with  two  neighbors  between  him 
and  the  meeting-house,  while  Elder  Leverett  and 
two  others  owned  the  remaining  lots.  On  the  north 
side  of  State  street  John  Cogan  had  built  the  first 
shop  in  Boston,  on  the  corner  of  "Washington  street; 
and  down  the  street  were  the  lots  of  Rev.  John 
Wilson  and  seven  others.  Opposite,  on  Washington 
street,  John  Leverett  lived  on  the  corner,  with  Rich- 
ard Parker  south  and  west. 

Such  were  the  fii-st  surroundings  of  this  site,'  until, 

'  In  Suffolk  Deeds,  iii.,  386,  are  the  depositions  taken  in  July,  1C60,  of 
William  Colbron,  James  Penn,  and  James  Johnson,  in  regard  to  tlie  sale  of 
the  meeting-house  lot  to  Robert  Thompson,  of  London,  now  of  Boston.  The 
price  paid  was  £1G0  sterling.  The  lot  is  described  as  follows  :  "  being  sixty 
sixe  foote  long  abutting  upon  a  lane  that  lietli  betweene  the  same  &  land 
lately  appertaining  unto  Tlioraas  Leverett,  elder  of  said  church,  deceased,  but 
now  belonging  to  Isack  Addington,  on  the  north  east  side ;  6i.\ty  two  foote 
broad  abutting  upon  the  great  streete  wherein  the  Towne  House  standeth,  on 
the  north  west  side;  sixty  four  foote  long  abutting  partly  upon  the  great 
streete  aforesaid  and  partly  upon  an  ally  that  passetli  betweene  the  same,  & 
the  house  &  land  of  Henry  Phillips,  butcher,  on  the  south  west  side :  & 
being  sixty  foote  broad  abutting  upon  a  lane  that  licth  between  the  same 
&  the  land  lately  belonging  to  Robert  Scott,  deceased,  and  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  relict,  on  the  south  east  side." 

Thus  we  learn  that  the  lot  had  a  street  or  an  alley  on  each  side.  The 
north-west  alley  was  Pudding  Lane,  now  Devonshire  street.  The  other 
alley-ways  are  still  represented  by  Congress  square.  In  1708,  in  the  list  of 
streets,  etc.,  we  find  :  "  The  way  Leadinge  from  y'  Exchange  in  King  Street, 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION.  25 

in  1640,  the  meeting-house,  "  being  decayed  and  too 
small,"  was  sold,  and  a  new  one  was  built  on  the  site 
since  occupied  by  Joy's  Building.  The  site  was  in 
dispute,  some  wishing  to  put  it  on  the  Green,  where 
the  Old  South  stands.  "Winthrop,  i.,  318,  writes: 
"Others,  viz.,  the  tradesmen  especially,  who  dwelt 
about  the  market-place,  desired  it  might  stand  still 
near  the  market,  lest  in  time  it  should  divert  the 
chief   trade   from   thence."      In   the   meeting-house 

passing  liy  Mrs.  Phillips  into  Water  street,  Pudding  Lane.  The  way  Lead- 
ing from  King  Street  by  the  house  of  Isaac  Adilington,  Esq'',  with  y"  returne 
into  Pudding  Lane,  Half  Square  Court."  In  1736,  Half-square  court  was 
the  lane  "from  Maccarty's  corner  turning  into  Pudding  Lane."  In  1800, 
Half-square  court  was  "  the  way  round  the  buildings  back  of  the  Post 
Office." 

This  original  purchaser,  Robert  Thompson,  was  of  the  family  ennobled  as 
Barons  Ilaversham.  His  son  or  grandson,  William  Thompson,  of  Elsham, 
county  Lincoln,  liad  a  son  Robert  and  a  daughter  Mary,  wife  of  Humphrey 
Edwin,  of  St.  Albans,  county  Herts.  The  only  daughter  of  this  last,  Eliza- 
beth Edwin,  married  Thomas  Corbett,  of  Darnhall,  county  Chester,  and- 
Uth  January,  1802,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corbett  sold  to  Thomas  Dawes,  of  Bos- 
ton (Suff.  Deeds,  lib.  205,  f.  105),  their  building  on  State  street,  called 
"  Boston  Buildings,"  and  also  the  Thompson  Farm,  in  Chelsea.  August  21, 
182G  (Suff.  Deeds,  lib.  312,  f.  123),  si.x  of  the  Dawes'  family  sold  an  undi- 
vided half  of  a  lot  bequeathed  to  them  by  their  grandfather,  Thomas  Dawes, 
to  John  Brazer,  for  $18,357.75.  Later  deeds  show  the  purcliase  of  tlie 
remainder  at  the  same  rate.  There  is  a  plan  recorded  with  the  deed,  show- 
ing 2,388  feet  in  all,  the  lot  having  evidently  been  shorn  of  its  original  lines 
on  Devonshire  street  and  the  corner  on  State  street.  Upon  the  death  of 
Mr.  Brazer,  in  1828,  this  lot  came  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  S.arah  Brooks,  who 
died  in  18G7,  and  whose  children  own  it.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  a 
large  lot  of  land  on  State  street  should  have  remained  so  long  in  two 
families. 


26  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

"the  general  and  great  quarter  courts  are  kept," 
wrote  Lechford  in  IGiO.  That  is  to  say,  our  incip- 
ient Legislature  and  prunitive  courts  of  law  were 
there  held;  as,  of  necessity,  must  have  been  con- 
vened all  town-meetings.  At  that  time  there  were 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  householders  in  Boston, 
representing  a  population  of  some  fifteen  hundred 
persons.  Even  in  ]G85  only  ninety  votes  were  cast 
in  town-meeting  to  elect  deputies.  (Sewall,  i.,  67.) 
For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  from  the  set- 
tlement of  the  town  this  provision  was  sufficient. 
But  in  1656  Capt.  Keayne  died,  and  his  will  proved 
that  for  years  he  had  been  devising  benefits  for  his 
fellow-townsmen.  Keayne  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company. 
His  controversy,  in  1642,  with  Mrs.  Sherman,  about  a 
stray  pig,  had  brought  the  two  houses  of  the 
magistrates  and  deputies  to  such  disputes  that  they 
had  resolved  to  sit  in  different  chambers.  (Winthrop, 
ii.,  160.)  He  was  a  merchant,  and  had  been  severely 
disciplined  by  the  church  for  trying  to  make  a  profit 
on  his  ventures  beyond  the  amount  which  the  clei*gy 
thought  proper.  (Winthrop,  i.,  315.)  "We  need 
not  suspect  Capt.  Keayne  of  extortion,  for  theo- 
logians of  that  date  had  hardly  escaped  from  the 
belief  that  all  interest  was  usury  and  all  profit  a 
breach  of  Christian  charity.  Our  merchant,  how- 
ever, submitted  to  discipline,  and  was   restored   to 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  27 

popular  favor,  being  elected  to  the  Legislature 
and  otherwise  employed  by  the  town.  For  three 
years  before  his  death  he  had  been  writing 
with  his  own  hand  that  enormous  will  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  folio  pages,  now  preserved  on 
our  probate  records,  by  which  he  disposed  of 
some  four  thousand  poimds,  —  an  enormous  fortune 
in  those  days.  Writmg  laboriously  and  care- 
fully, evidently  desiring  that  his  money  should 
be  wisely  expended,  Keayne  planned  various  ways 
of  aiding  his  fellow-townsmen.  One-half  of  his 
estate  went  to  his  son,  the  other  to  public  uses. 
Three  hundred  pounds  was  for  the  Town  House;  one 
Imndred  for  the  Granary ;  fifty  to  the  Free  School ;  fifty 
to  the  poor  of  his  church ;  one  hundred  to  Harvard 
College;  somewhat  to  the  Artilleiy  Company;  many 
legacies  to  relatives,  friends,  and  servants,  —  a  whim- 
sical, generous,  pathetic  will,  full  of  a  desire  to  do 
good  according  to  the  best  of  his  light. 

But  the  town  of  Boston  was  to  receive  one  gift 
which  would  endure  even  to  this  day.  Three  hun- 
dred pounds  were  to  be  laid  out  in  building  a  conduit 
and  a  mai'ket-place,  "  with  some  convenient  room  or 
two  for  the  Courts  to  meet  in  both  in  summer  and 
winter,  and  so  for  the  Townsmen  and  Gonnnissioners 
in  the  same  building  or  the  like,  and  a  convenient 
room  for  a  librar}',  and  a  gallery,  or  some  other  hand- 
some room  for  the  elders  to  meet  in ;  also  a  room  for 


28  OLD   STATE   UOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

an  armoiy."  There  was  to  be  a  room  for  merchants, 
masters  of  ships,  and  strangers,  as  well  as  townsfolk. 
All  tills,  with  much  repetition  and  amendment,  is  set 
forth  in  the  will ;  and  the  main  part  endured." 

In  February,  1656-7,  the  Selectmen  began  to  take 
action  respecting  the  legacy,  and  at  the  town-meet- 
ing in  March,  1657,  "Capt  [Thomas]  Savage,  Mr 
[Anthony]  Stoddard,  Mr  [Jeremy]  Houchin  and 
Mr  Ed  [ward]  Hutchinson"  were  chosen  a  committee 
"  to  consider  of  the  modell  of  the  towne  house  to  bee 
built,  as  concerning  the  charge  thereof,  and  the  most 
convenient  place;  as  also  to  take  the  subscriptions 
of  the  inhabitants  to  propagate  such  a  building;  and 
seasonably  to  make  report  to  a  publick  townes 
meeting."  Keayne  had  suggested  Mr.  [Thomas] 
Broughton  and  Mr.  [John]  Clarke,  the  chinirgeon, 
as  good  persons  to  devise  a  plan ;  but  these  others 
were  trusted  citizens. 

Although  no  picture  or  plan  of  this  first  Town 
House  has  been  preserved,  we  can  get  a  very  good 
idea  of  it  from  the  papers  preserved  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts Historical  Society.  These  documents  were 
published  in  Mayor  Wightman's  address  at  the  laying 

*  See  Appendix  I.  for  a  copy  of  this  will.    His  autogr.iph  is 


^CtMr  7(^nu* 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  29 

of  the  corner-stone  of  the  pi-esent  City  Hall,  and  are 
reprinted  in  Appendix  F  of  this  volume. 

The  committee  of  four,  perhaps,  reported  to  the 
town-meeting,  for  we  find  that  on  the  31st  August, 
1657,  Thomas  Marshall,  Samuel  Cole  (not  Cobb,  as  is 
printed  in  the  address),  William  Paddy,  Joshua 
Scottow,  and  Jeremy  Houchin  (of  whom  all  but 
Houchin  were  selectmen) ,  "  having  full  power  given 
us "  to  engage  the  town  for  the  payment  for  the 
house,  appointed  Edward  Hutchinson  and  John  Hull 
commissioners  to  attend  the  work.  These  two  last- 
named  agreed  with  Thomas  Joy  and  Bartholomew 
Bernad  to  erect  the  building  for  the  £300  of  the 
Keayne  legacy,  and  a  further  sum  of  £100,  to  be 
subscribed. 

We  find,  also,  that,  as  the  work  progi*essed,  it 
was  evident  that  more  money  would  be  needed,  and, 
therefore,  some  hundred  and  four  patriotic  citizens 
contributed  the  sum  of  £367.11.  As  the  final  pay- 
ment was  £680,  evidently  this  list  contains  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  all  the  donors. 

The  house  was  to  be  36  feet  wide  and  66  feet  long, 
set  upon  21  pillars  10  feet  high,  projecting  3  feet 
over  the  pillars  on  each  side.  Moreover  there  was  a 
walk  on  the  top,  li  or  15  feet  wide,  with  two  turrets, 
and  balusters  and  rails  round  the  walk.  There  were 
to  be  two  pair  half-paced  stairs,  and  turned  stairs  up 
into  the  walk.    We  infer  that  there  were  two  rooms, 


30  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

one  from  each  end  chimney  coming  towards  the 
centre,  with  a  staircase  at  eacli  end,  and  that  one 
of  these  halls  was  subdivided  into  two  rooms.  Good 
floors,  windows,  mantel-pieces,  gutters,  and  other 
details  are  specified,  showing  that  the  town  intended 
to  have  a  good  building. 

Exactly  when  the  first  Town  House  was  completed 
and  occupied  does  not  appear  by  the  records,  though 
the  contract  with  Joy  and  Bernad  specifies  that  it  was 
to  be  erected  by  June  30,  16f)8,  and  covered  and 
shingled  within  six  weeks  later. 

May  19, 1658,  the  General  Court  passed  the  fol- 
lowing order  (Kec,  iv.,  p.  327)  :  — 

"  lu  answer  to  the  request  of  the  Select  men  of  Boston,  the  court 
judgeth  it  meet  to  allow  unto  Boston,  for  and  towards  the  charges 
of  their  town-house,  Boston's  proportion  of  one  single  country  rate 
for  this  year  ensuing,  provided  that  sufficient  rooms  in  the  said 
house  shall  be  forever  free,  for  the  keeping  of  all  Courts,  and  also 
that  the  place  underneath  shall  be  free  for  all  inhabitants  in  this 
jurisdiction  to  make  use  of  as  a  market  for  ever,  without  payment 
of  any  toll  or  tribute  whatsoever." 

The  Selectmen  of  Boston  voted  March  28,  1659, 
that  no  one  should  smoke  or  bring  a  fire  or  match 
under  or  about  the  Town  House  except  in  case  of 
military  exercise;  so  that  the  building  was  probably 
then  ready. 

Feb.  28,  1660-61,  a  settlement  was  ordered  with 
Thomas  Joy  and  partner   "  for  the  building  of  the 


OLD  STATK  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  31 

towne-house  stayre  cases  and  Conduit"  by  paying 
therefor  six  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,  deducting 
what  has  been  paid. 

Oct.  9, 1667,  the  Legislature  ordered  "  the  neces- 
sary full  and  suitable  repair  of  the  Town  and  Court 
House  in  Boston,  founded  hy  the  late  Captain  TtoheH 
Keayne^^  one-half  of  the  expense  to  be  paid  by  the 
country,  one-quarter  by  the  county  of  Suifolk,  one- 
quarter  by  the  town  of  Boston.  May  31,  1671,  they 
ordered,  on  the  same  terms,  "  by  a  firm  whole  wall  to 
the  bottom  of  the  braces,  with  brick  or  stone  to  re- 
pair the  Coui't  or  Town' House,  so  that  all  inconven- 
iences by  rotting  the  timbers  &c.  be  prevented." 

Josselyn,  who  was  here  in  1663,  says,  in  his 
account  printed  three  years  later,  that  there  is  in 
Boston  '^  a  Town  House  built  upon  pillars,  where 
the  Merchants  may  confer;  in  the  Chambers  above, 
they  keep  their  monthly  Courts." 

John  Dunton,  in  1686,  merely  repeats  the  same 
words.  From  items  in  the  town  records  it  seems 
that  Richard  Taylor  hired  the  shop  under  the  stairs 
at  the  west  end  of  the  Town  House  in  1661,  and  in 
1669  he  obtained  an  extension  of  his  term  for  sixty- 
one  years.  In  1666  Robert  Gibbs  obtained  a  lease 
of  the  cellar  under  the  Town  House;  and  in  1664 
Thomas  Lake  and  Hezekiah  Usher  seem  to  have 
been  in  possession  of  the  east  end  of  the  cellar.  In 
1678  Samuel  Shrimpton  bought  out  Lake's  interest 


32  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEmCiVTION. 

from  his  widow,  and  obtained  an  extension  of  the 
lease  for  thirty-nine  years.  "Oct.  28,  l(i86,  let  to 
John  Hayward,  notary,  the  small  shop  or  room  in 
the  westerly  end  of  the  Town  House,  lately  occu- 
pied by  !N"athaniell  Barnes,  for  21  years  at  the  rent 
of  ten  shillings  annually." 

We  may  therefore  safely  assume  that,  as  the 
building  was  raised  on  pillars,  the  lower  floor  was 
partly  partitioned  off  for  shops,  leaving  a  large 
space  for  the  daily  exchange.  As  cai-lj^  as  1664 
a  bell  was  ordered  to  be  rung  at  eleven  o'clock 
eveiy  working  day,  to  give  notice  of  the  assem- 
bling there  for  one  hour  of  merchants,  strangers, 
and  inhabitants.  In  1683  it  was  voted  "that  a 
note  set  up  under  the  Town  House  upon  one  of 
the  pillars,  concerning  the  price  of  wheat,  shall  be 
sufficient  notice  to  the  bakers  to  size  their  bread  by, 
according  to  law."  May  11,  1G96,  "agreed  that 
the  market  appointed  by  law  should  be  in  and  about 
the  ToAvn  House,  and  be  opened  on  August  11th, 
next." 

Upstairs  we  find  that  there  were  three  rooms, 
one  probably  for  the  Governor  and  Council,  and 
one  for  the  Representatives;  and  naturally  there 
would  be  also  some  anterooms.  Although  the  first 
buUding  covered  less  ground  than  there  is  in  the 
present  lot,  it  was  probably  because  there  was 
more  space  at  the  east  and  west  ends.      The  first 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  33 

house  was  66  feet  long',  the  present  110,  but  the 
extra  space  was  in  the  street.  In  fact,  the  French 
map*  by  Franquehn,  made  m  1693,  represents  the 
space  occupied  by  the  Town  House  to  be  as  large 
as  the  present  ground. 

The  other  portions  of  Keayne's  plans  did  not  prove 
so  permanent.  In  1684  and  in  1695  mention  is  made 
of  the  Town's  Library;  but  it  was  perhaps  lost  in 
the  fire,  1711.  As  to  his  Conduit,  we  know  that  it 
failed  ia  some  twelve  years.  It  was  doubtless  to 
be  constructed  in  imitation  of  the  structures  then 
common  in  England.  "They  are  a  kind  of  stone 
cage  or  cap,  under  cover  of  which  the  coiuluit  pipe 
rises  to  the  top  and  then  lets  down  its  stream; 
sometimes  openly  (the  cap  being  a  cage),  some- 
times unseen,  to  a  reservoir  near  the  bottom."  ^ 
The  waste-water  was  allowed  to  escape  by  paved 
gutters,  or  otherwise  to  seek  the  earth.  Doubt- 
less Captain  Keayne  expected  to  utilize  the  springs 
near  his  house  as  a  supjoly  of  water  for  daily  use, 
and  "  especially  in  case  of  fii'e."  But  such  open 
streams  were  unsuited  to  this  climate;  and  that  feat- 
ure of  English  towns  could  not  be  imitated  here. 
In  March,   1672    (Town   Records,  ii.,   66),   it   was 

'  A  careful  copy  of  this  map  is  in  our  Public  Library,  and  heliotypea  there- 
from have  been  freely  issued. 

*  Prof.  William  Everett  lias  kindly  furnished  the  above  description  from 
his  observation  in  England. 


34  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

voted  that,  as  the  work  "by  the  Providence  of  God 
hath  not  proved  so  useful  as  was  expected  and 
desired,"  by  an  agreement  with  the  overseers  of 
Keayne's  will,  "liberty  was  given  to  Mr.  Nicholas 
Page  to  take  away  the  bricks  belonging  to  the 
place  intended  for  a  conduit  at  the  end  of  the  Town 
House,  before  his  door,  provided  he  immediately  fill 
the  place  even  with  the  ground  about  it."  As  Page 
had  bought  of  the  town  its  half  of  the  new  house, 
adjoining  Keayne's  old  one,  which  K.'s  overseers 
had  given  in  payment  of  the  legacy,  it  is  clear  that 
the  conduit  was  planned  to  be  on  the  south  fork  of 
State  street,  beside  the  Town  House. 


The  first  building  stood  from  1658  to  1711,  when 
it  was  burned  in  a  terrible  conflagration.  In  it  pre- 
sided Governors  Eudicott,  Bellmgham,  Leverett,  and 
Bradstreet,  under  the  old  charter;  Andros,  under  the 
orders  of  King  James;  and  Pliips,  Stoughton,  Bello- 
mont,  and  Joseph  Dudley  under  the  new  chai-ter. 
Through  many  perils  —  from  Indian  foes,  from 
English  tyi'anny,  and  from  domestic  treachery  —  the 
settlement  steadily  increased  in  population  and 
wealth  during  these  fifty-thi'ee  years.  It  is  estimated 
by  Shattuck  that  the  population  of  Boston  was,  in 
A.D.  1680,  four  thousand  five  hundred  persons;  in 
A.D.  1690,  seven  thousand  persons;  in  A.D.  1700, 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  35 

six  thousand  seven  hundred  persons;  in  A.D.  1710, 
nine  thousand  persons. 

At  one  time,  indeed,  in  1689,  this  Town  House  was 
the  centre  of  a  revolution.  In  April  of  that  year 
the  colonists,  inspired  by  the  news  that  William  of 
Orange  had  landed  in  England,  took  the  desperate 
resolve  to  rebel  against  King  James  and  his  gov- 
ernor here.  It  was  a  rash  venture ;  but  it  succeeded. 
Within  the  previous  year  Andros,  a  veteran  soldier 
of  large  experience,  had  constructed  on  the  neighbor- 
ing height  a  fortification,  which  gave  its  name  to 
Fort  Hill.  He  had  royal  troops  under  his  command, 
and  a  man-of-war  was  anchored  off  the  shore.  But 
the  leaders  of  the  people  assembled  at  the  Town 
House  in  Boston,  supported  by  the  bold  and  resolute 
freemen  of  the  colony,  and  in  a  single  day  the  royal 
authority  was  overthrown.*  It  should  be  forever 
remembered  that,  although  a  like  success  in  England 
at  the  same  time  secured  the  immunity  of  these  Bos- 

'  In  Byfleld's  Account,  reprinted  in  the  Andros  Tracts,  he  states  that 
Gov.  Andros,  having  been  captured  at  the  Fort,  was  "  conveyed  to  the 
Council-house,  where  Mr.  Uradstreet  and  the  rest  of  the  Gentlemen  waited 
to  receive  him."  Hutchinson,  i.,  3S1,  says,  "  A  long  declaration  was  road 
from  a  balcony  or  gallery  of  the  Towno  House."  Beside  this  there  was  a 
broadside  issued,  subscribed  by  Wait  Winthrop,  Simon  Bradstreet,  and  thir- 
teen others,  dated  "  at  the  Town  House  in  Boston,  April  18,  1689,"  stating 
to  Gov.  Andros  that  "  We  judge  it  necessary  you  forthwith  surrender  and 
deliver  up  the  Government  and  Fortification,  to  be  preserved  .and  disposed 
according  to  Order  and  Direction  from  the  Crown  of  England,  which 
suddenly  is  expected  m.ay  arrive." 


36  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

tonians,  the  actors  here  were  then  ignorant  of  that 
event,  and  for  at  least  a  month  they  were  ojjen  and 
avowed  rebels.  !N^or  can  it  be  doubted  that  the 
whole  course  of  our  history  was  immensely  influ- 
enced by  the  fact  that,  when  William  and  Mary 
ascended  the  throne,  they  found  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts so  far  distinguished  from  other  colonies  as 
to  have  fought  independently  for  its  rights.  This 
old  Town  House  was  the  first  shrine  of  liberty;  and 
every  subsequent  act  can  be  clearly  shown  to  be  the 
natural  and  logical  consequence  of  that  first  uprising 
of  a  free  people. 


As  the  centre  of  the  town  this  old  hall  must  have 
witnessed  many  stirring  scenes.  Unfortunately, 
until  we  reach  the  date  of  SewalFs  invaluable  Diary, 
we  have  no  warrant  for  the  details. 

Sewall  (i.,  138)  notes,  under  date  of  May  17,  1686, 
"  General  Court  sits  at  one  o'clock,  I  goe  thither 
about  3.  The  Old  Government  draws  to  the 
North-side,  Mr.   Adduigton,  Capt.    Smith   and  I  sit 

at  the  Table,  there  not  being  room 

Came  also  Capt.  of  King's  Frigot  Gov^  Hinkly, 
Gov^  West  and  sate  on  the  Bench,  and  the  Room 
pretty  well  filled  with  Spectators  in  an  Instant." 
May  18  he  mentions  a  great  wedding  celebrated  at 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  37 

Mr.  Shrirapton's  by  Mr.  Randolph's  chaplain,  "  when 
Prayer  was  had  at  the  Town  House." 

May  2G,  1686,  he  notes  that  Mr.  Eatcliffe  and  the 
Episcopalians  asked  to  have  one  of  the  three 
churches  to  preach  in.  "  That  is  denyed  and  he  is 
granted  the  East-End  of  the  Town  House,  wliere  tlie 
Deputies  used  to  meet,  until  those  who  desh'e  his 
Ministry  shall  pro\Tide  a  fitter  place." 

Dec.  20,  1686,  Gov.  Andros  arrives,  "  lands  at 
Gov"'.  Leverett's  wharf  about  2  P.M.  when  the 
President,  &c.,  meet  hiin,  and  so  march  up  through 
the  Guards  of  the  8  Companyes  to  the  Town  House 
where  part  of  the  Commission  read." 

December  25,  1686.  "Governour  goes  to  the 
Town  House  to  Service  Forenoon  and  Afternoon,  a 
Red-Coat  going  on  his  right  hand  and  Capt.  George 
on  his  left."  January  31,  1686-7.  "There  is  a 
meeting  at  the  Town  House  forenoon  and  afternoon: 
Bell  rung  for  it,  respecting  the  beheading  Charles 
the  First:  Governour  there." 

April  26,  1687.  "Court  sits.  President  in  the 
Governour's  seat,  Mr.  Stoughton  at  his  right  hand. 
Col.  Shrimpton  next  him;  Mr.  Lynde  at  his  left 
hand,  Major  Lidget  nest  him." 

From  these  notes  we  infer  that  before  Andros's 
time  the  Deputies  had  the  chamber  on  the  east  end. 
Afterwards  the  Supreme  Court  held  its  sessions 
in   the    room    appropriated    to    the    Governor    and 


38  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

Council,  which  probably  was  the  same  East  Chamber, 
as  the  Deputies  were  no  part  of  the  government 
under  the  Andros  administration.  This  room,  hav- 
ing once  become  the  property  of  the  Governor  and 
Council,  seems  to  have  remained  in  use  by  them 
until  the  Revolution. 

On  May  14,  1G92,  Sir  William  Phips  arrived,  the 
first  governor  under  the  Second  or  Provincial  Char- 
ter.'' Sewall  writes  (Diary,  i.,  360) :  "  Sir  William 
arrives  in  the  Nonsuch  Frigat:  Candles  are  lighted 
before  he  gets  into  Town-house.  Eight  Companies 
wait  on  Him  to  his  house,  and  then  on  Mr.  Mather 
to  his.  Made  no  volleys  because  'twas  Satterday 
night."  "  Monday,  May  16.  Eight  Companies  and 
two  from  Charlestown  guard  Sir  William  and  his 
Councillors  to  the  Town-house  where  the  Commis- 
sions are  read  and  Oaths  taken."  Boston,  at  this 
date,  had  not  far  from  one  thousand  houses  and 
seven  thousand  inhabitants  (Palfrey,  iv.,  136) ;  but 
at  the   election   of  a   representative   in   May,    1698, 

'Palfrey  (Hist,  iii.,  590)  thus  describes  the  scene:  "  From  far  and  near 
the  people  flocked  into  Bijston ;  the  government,  attended  by  the  principal 
gentlemen  of  the  capital  and  the  towns  around,  passed  in  procession  on 
horseback  through  the  thoroughfares ;  the  regiment  of  the  town  and  com- 
panies and  troops  of  horse  and  foot  from  the  country,  lent  their  pomp  to 
the  show ;  there  was  a  great  dinner  at  the  Town  House  for  the  better  sort ; 
wine  was  served  out  in  the  streets ;  and  the  evening  was  made  noisy  with 
acclamations,  till  the  bell  rang  at  nine  o'clock,  and  families  met  to  thank 
God  at  the  domestic  altar,  for  causing  the  great  sorrow  to  pass  away,  and 
giving  a  Protestant  King  and  Queen  to  England." 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  39 

when  there  was  a  sph-ited  contest,  only  three  hun- 
dred and  eighteen  votes  were  cast.  (Sewall,  i., 
480.) 

Phips's  administration  lasted  only  two  years  and  a 
half,  and  is  forever  darkened  by  the  shadow  of  the 
witchcraft  delusion  and  its  judicial  murders.  Hap- 
pily for  us,  none  of  the  sentences  were  pronounced 
in  Boston;  though  at  the  last  court  held  here 
one  Mary  Wathins,  a  servant,  despite  the  vei'- 
dict  of  the  jury,  was  imprisoned  by  order  of  the 
court,  and  sold  into  bondage  in  Virginia.  (Drake, 
Hist.,  503.)  Hutchinson  (Hist.,  ii.,  Gl)  relates  that 
Dame  Mary  Phips,  the  governor's  wife,  was  ap- 
plied to  in  behalf  of  a  woman  held  for  trial  for 
witchcraft. 

"  The  good  lady,  •propria  virtute,  granted  and 
signed  a  warrant  for  the  woman's  discharge,  which 
was  obeyed  by  the  keeper,  and  the  woman  lives  still 
for  aught  I  know."  It  is  fair  to  conclude  that  the 
document  was  in  the  usual  form,  and  was  taken 
from  the  official  papers  in  the  governor's  chamber. 
We  may  safely  infer  that  in  this  building  the  first 
female  governor  exercised  her  rights,  and  we  may 
rejoice  that  the  usurpation  was  for  the  glorious  pre- 
rogative of  pardon. 

From  November,  1G94,  to  June,  1702,  the  govern- 
ment was  mainly  in  the  hands  of  Lieut.  Governor 
Stoughton,  though  for  a  year  the  Earl  of  Bellomont 


40  OLD  STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

was  the  nominal  governor.  Just  before  the  arrival 
of  Bellomont,  news  was  received  of  the  rejection 
of  several  of  our  laws  by  the  home  government. 
Sewall  (i.,  49(5)  thus  describes  the  scene :  "  Drum  is 
beat  and  Allowance  and  Disallowance  of  the  Acts  is 
published.  Lieutenant  Governor  [Stoughton]  and 
Council  standing  in  the  Gallery.  Great  many 
Auditors   below." 

Sewall  records  (Diary,  i.,  458),  that  on  September 
8, 1697,  "  the  Governour  and  Council  first  meet  in  the 
Council  Chamber,  as  it  is  now  fitted  with  ceiling, 
Glazing,  Painting,  new  Floor  that  brings  it  to  a 
Level;  Ifew  Hearth  even  with  it."  This  meeting 
was  made  noteworthy  by  the  announcement  by  Col. 
Pierce  that  limestone  had  been  discovered  at  New- 
bury, —  a  matter  of  the  highest  importance,  as,  up  to 
that  time,  the  colonists  had  been  obliged  to  burn 
oyster-shells  for  lime.  JS'ov.  14,  1698,  a  rate  of 
£60  was  ordered  for  the  repairing  of  the  Town 
House,  and  no  other  use. 

Another  day  of  excitement  in  the  old  building 
must  have  been  that  one  in  July,  1699,  when  Captain 
William  Kidd  was  examined  by  Lord  Bellomont  and 
his  Council,  charged  with  many  notorious  piracies. 
Research,  which  destroys  so  many  illusions,  shows 
us  that  the  noted  pirate  was  far  from  being  so 
wacked  or  so  bloodthirsty  as  fame  reported,  and 
certamly  reveals  a  strong  infusion  of  poltrooneiy  in 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  41 

his  character.  The  muse,  however,  promptly  re- 
corded of  him:  — 

"  My  name  was  William  Eidd, 
As  I  sailed,  as  I  sailed, 
And  7nost  wickedly  I  did, 
As  I  sailed." 

As  an  evidence  of  the  various  uses  to  which  the 
building  was  put,  we  find  that  in  1701,  "  because  of 
the  Rain  and  Mist,"  the  election  of  captain  of  the 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company  was  held 
in  the  Town  House,  when  the  choice  fell  upon  Judge 
Sewall.  "  They  calFd  down  the  Council  out  of  the 
Chamber  and  set  their  chairs  below:  Col.  Pynchon 

gave  the  Staves  and  Ensign Drew 

out  before  Mr.  Usher's,  gave  three  volleys;  drew 
into  the  Town  House  again."  Then  Rev.  Mr.  Pem- 
berton  prayed,  and  the  company  escorted  their 
commander  safely  home.  So  again  in  1702,  "  rainy 
day,  we  exercise  on  the  Town  House  in  the  Morn." 

On  May  28,  1702,  news  arrived  at  Boston  of  the 
death  of  Bang  William. 

"  And  at  last  the  Gazette,  containing  the  Proclaim- 
ing of  the  Queen  came  to  hand.  Then  we  resolved 
to  proclaim  her  Majesty  here.  Regiment  drawn  up, 
and  Life-Guard  of  House;  Council,  Representatives, 
Muiisters,  Justices,  Gentlemen,  taken  within  the 
Guard.  Mr.  Secretary,  on  foot,  read  the  order  of 
the  Council,  the  Proclamation  and  Queen's  Procla- 


42  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

mation  for  continuing  Commissions.  Mr.  Sheriff 
Gookin  gave  it  to  the  people.  Volleys.  Guns. 
"Went  into  chamber  to  drink."     (Sewall,  ii.,  56.) 

June  1,  1703.  "Town-meeting  is  held  in  the  old 
Meeting-house  because  of  the  General  Assembly'; 
2  p.m.  Voters  two  hundred  and  six."  This  entry  of 
Sewall  confirms  our  suspicion  that  the  Legislature 
had  the  first  claim  to  occupy  the  building.  In  March, 
1706-7,  the  records  show  that  the  town  meeting  was 
held  in  the  old  meeting-house. 

In  1704  Captain  John  Quelch  and  five  other 
pirates  were  tried  here,  and  sentenced  to  be  hung. 
The  sentence  was  executed  June  30.  Sewall  gives 
us  at  this  time  the  following  picture:  "As  the 
Govei'nor  [Dudley]  sat  at  the  Council-Table  'twas 
told  him  Madam  Paige  [his  niece]  was  dead.  lie 
clap'd  his  hands,  and  quickly  went  out,  and 
return'd  not  to  the  Chamber  again;  but  ordered 
Mr.  Secretary  to  prorogue  the  Court  till  the  16th  of 
August,  which  Mr.  Secretary  did  by  going  into  the 
House  of  Deputies."     (Sewall,  ii.,  109.) 

Sewall  records  on  February  6,  1707-8 :  "  Queen's 
Birthday.  I  could  not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  go  to 
the  Town  House,  because  hardly  anything  is  pro- 
fessedly there  done  but  drinking  Healths." 

1708-9,  January  6.  "  Presently  after  Lecture,  the 
Act  of  Parliament  regulating  Coin  is  published  by 
Beat  of  Drum  and  Sound  of  Trumpet."     (Sewall,  ii., 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  4.3 

248.)  Undoubtedly  fi'om  the  balcony  of  the  Council 
Chamber. 

March  13, 1709-10.  "  General  Town  Meeting.  Mr. 
Cotton  Mather  went  to  Prayer;  I  stood  in  the  Lobby, 
then   went   into   the   Council   Chamber.     Constable 

came  to  me  and  surprised  me  with  telling  me 

that  I  was  Chosen  Moderator.  I  went  in,  and  they 
would  have  me  sit  on  the  Seat,  which  I  did."  (Sewall, 
ii.,  275.) 

From  this  entry  it  seems  that  the  town  meetings 
were  held  in  the  Representatives'  Hall,  which  could 
well  hold  the  citizens,  as  the  voters  only  numbered 
about  two  hundred.  Other  entries  make  it  probable 
that  the  Suj)reme  Court  also  used  that  room,  the 
Council  Chamber  serving  as  a  consultation  room 
for  the  judges. 

In  1711  the  town  was  much  agitated  by  the 
arrival  of  some  fifteen  men-of-war  and  seven  thou- 
sand troops  destined  for  an  attack  on  Quebec. 
There  were  abundant  festivities  and  solemn  ex- 
change of  courtesies  between  the  English  and  our 
local  authorities.  The  ignominious  failure  of  the  ex- 
pedition was  a  sad  blow  to  Massachusetts,  although 
the  loss  of  life  was  confined  mainly  to  the  ships  of 
the  British  portion  of  the  fleet. 

To  add  to  the  general  depression,  a  great  fire  in 
Boston  occurred  "  about  7  or  8  o'clock  of  the  night 
between  the  2d  and  3d  of  October."     "  It  broke  out 


44  OLD  STATE  HOUSE    RE-DE1)ICATI0N. 

in  an  old  Tenement  within  a  back  Yard  in  Cornhill 
(i.e.,  our  Wasliington  street),  near  the  First  Meeting- 
house, occasioned  by  the  carelessness  of  a  poor 
Scottish  Woman  (one  Mary  Morse),  by  using  Fii-e 
near  a  parcel  of  Ocum,  Chips,  and  other  comljustible 
Rubbish."  This  spot  was  in  or  near  Williams' 
Coml.  "  All  the  houses  on  both  sides  of  Cornhill 
[Washington  street]  from  School  street  to  what 
is  called  the  stone-shop  in  Dock-square,  all  the 
upper  part  of  King  street  [State  street]  on  the  south 
and  north  side,  together  with  the  Town  House,  and 
what  was  called  the  Old  Meeting-House  above 
it,  were  consiuned  to  ashes."  (Hutchinson,  ii., 
200.) 

Thus  ended,  after  half  a  century's  use,  the  first 
Town  House  which  has  stood  on  this  spot.  Of 
course  it  was  necessary  to  replace  it  at  once ;  and  on 
the  17th  of  October  the  Selectmen  of  Boston  ad- 
dressed the  Legislature,  asking  its  "  Advice  and 
Direction  for  the  Restoring  and  Rebuilding  of  the 
House  for  those  Publick  Uses,  and  about  the  place 
where  to  set  the  same." ' 

A  joint  committee  of  four  councillors  and  seven 
deputies,  with  Elisha  Hutchinson,  chairman,  was  at 
once  appointed,  who  recommend  that  a  new  house 
be  built  "in  or  near  where  the  Old  Town  House 
stood,"  the  "  breadth  not  to  exceed  thirty-six  feet,  the 

'  See  Appendix  B  for  copies  of  the  acts,  and  other  votes. 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION.  45 

length  so  as  to  be  convenient."  "  The  charge  to  be 
borne  the  one  half  by  the  Province,  the  other  half  by 
the  Town  of  Boston  and  County  of  Suffolk  in  equal 
Proportion." 

Accordingly,  a  new  committee  was  appointed,  viz. : 
Elisha  Hutchinson  and  Penn  Townsend,  councillors, 
Addington  Davenport,  Samuel  Thaxter  and  Capt. 
Phipps,  deputies,  to  attend  to  the  affair,  with  two 
persons  to  be  added  by  the  town  of  Boston.  Tlie 
town  assented,  and  joined  Thomas  Brattle  and 
William  Payne. 

March  12,  1711-12,  the  Legislature  voted,  as 
instructions  to  the  committee,  that  the  building  be 
not  more  than  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet  nor  less 
than  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  length.  IS^ovcmber 
17,  1712,  they  voted  as  instructions  to  the  committee, 
"  that  they  fit  the  East  Chamber  for  the  Use  of  His 
Excellency  the  Governor  and  the  Honorable  the 
Council,  the  Middle  Chamber  for  the  House,  the 
West  Chamber  for  the  Superior  and  Inferior  Courts." 
And  "  that  there  be  but  two  Offices  below  Stairs  in 
the  Province  and  Court  House  now  Building  in 
Boston,  one  for  the  Secretary,  the  other  for  the  Reg- 
ister of  Deeds  in  the  County  of  Suffolk." 

Although  we  do  not  know  who  designed  the  brick 
building  which  speedily  arose  on  the  site,  we  can 
to-day  inspect  its  sturdy  walls  and  recognize  the 
influence  of  the  Queen  Anne  period.    It  is  beyond 


4G  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

controversy  that  the  fire  of  1747  and  the  various 
changes  which  have  been  made  in  the  building,  in 
no  way  affected  the  exterior  walls.  We  are  to-day 
assembled  in  a  building  which  dates  back  to  A.D. 
1713,  and  we  can  form  a  correct  idea  of  its  original 
and  ever  continuing  appearance. 

In  1720  Daniel  Keal  printed  his  "Present  State 
of  Kew  England,"  and  thus  describes  the  building  in 
its  earliest  days :  — 

"  From  the  Head  of  the  Peer  you  go  up  the  chief  Street  of  tlie 
Town,  at  the  upper  End  of  which  is  the  Town  House  or  Exchange  ; 
a  fine  Piece  of  Building,  containing  besides  the  Walk  for  the 
Merchants,  the  Council  Chamber,  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
another  spacious  Room  for  the  Sessions  of  the  Courts  of  Justice, 
the  Exchange  is  surrounded  with  Booksellers  Shops,  which  have  a 
good  Trade."     (Neal,  p.  587.) 

In  1708  it  was  computed  that  Boston  had  twelve 
or  thirteen  thousand  inhabitants ;  in  1720,  eighteen  or 
twenty  thousand.  (Keal,  601.)  The  Council  con- 
sisted of  twenty-eight  members,  the  House  of  one 
hundred  and  three.     (Neal,  605.) 

During  the  eighteen  months  which  were  needed 
for  rebuilding  the  Town  House,  the  town  meetings 
were  held  as  follows:  Nov.  16,  1711,  in  Rev.  Mr. 
Colinan's  meeting-house  in  Brattle  street;  March, 
1712,  in  the  same;  March,  1712-13,  at  the  south 
meeting-house,  and  May  13,  1713,  in  the  new  Town 
House.     Sewall  records   (ii.,  387),  May  28,  1713,— 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  47 

"All  the  Councillors  ai'e  sworn  except  Major 
Drown,  who  was  not  in  Town.  In  the  afternoon 
I  tleclar'd  to  the  Council  that  Prayer  had  been  too 
much  neglected  formerly;  we  were  now  in  a  !N^ew 
House,  we  ought  to  Reform;  without  it,  I  would 
not  be  there.  Mr.  Secretary  assented,  and  I  was 
desired  to  see  it  effected.  May  29.  Dr.  Increase 
Mather  prays  Excellently  in  the  Council." 

For  some  years  at  least  this  custom  of  beginning 
a  session  of  the  Council  with  prayer  was  con- 
tinued. 

It  seems  from  Sewall's  notes  that  there  was  a  large 
table  in  the  council-chamber,  at  which  the  members 
sat,  and  that  the  Governor  occupied  the  head  of  it.* 

'Oct.  15,  1713,  Sewall  records  (ii.,  402)  :  "I  observ'd  Two  Leather  Chairs 
were  set  at  the  end  of  the  Council  Table  and  the  Elbow  Chair  set  aside. 
But  when  Gen'.  Nicholson  staid  not  to  sit  down,  tliey  were  remov'd,  and  the 
Governor's  Arm'd  Chair  toolc  place  again." 

Feb.  6,  1713-14.  "I  went  to  the  Town  House  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Queen's  Birthday.  Mr.  Brorafield  and  I  sat  awhile  in  one  of  the  windows, 
Table  being  full ;  afterwards  stit  in."  Later  on  that  evening,  one  Mr.  Net- 
maker,  secretary  to  Gen.  Nicholson,  was  drunk  and  disorderly  in  a  tavern 
and  Bewail  ordered  his  arrest.  On  March  9th  Sewall  was  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Council.  "  Sat  round  a  little  Fire.  I  happen'd  to  sit  next  Gen'.  Nich- 
olson. .  .  .  Then  with  a  Roaring  Noise  the  General  said,  '  I  demand  JnsTiCK 
against  Mr.  Sewall  and  Pcmberton  for  sending  my  Secretary  to  prison 
without  acquainting  nie  with  it  I '  And  hastily  rose  up,  and  went  down  and 
walk'd  the  Exchange,  where  he  was  so  furiously  Loud,  that  the  Noise  was 
plainly  heard  in  the  Council-Chamber,  the  door  being  shut." 

Sept.  24th,  1715.  The  Governor  comes  to  Town.  Flagg  [the  messenger] 
warns  [the  Council  to  meet].  Governor  sits  by  the  side  of  the  Table  facing 
to  the  South ;  Lt.  Governor  [Tailer]  in  one  of  the  South  windows.    The 


48  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

It  is  a  fair  inference  that  this  table  reached  from  the 
cast  window  towards  the  door,  and  if  so  it  was  in 
conformity  to  onr  !N^ewEnghind  custom,  by  which  the 
minister  or  other  presiding  officer  is  so  invariably 
placed  in  front  of  a  window. 

To  this  council-chamber  the  deputies  were  sum- 
moned, and  committees  of  that  body  were  here  re- 
ceived. At  such  conferences  the  Governor  was  not 
allowed  to  take  part,  though  on  one  occasion  at  least 
he  remained  in  the  room.  There  was  a "  closet," 
probably  one  of  the  anterooms  opening  from  the 
chamber,  to  which  the  Governor  could  withdraw  for 
private  consultation;^  and  perhaps  the  other  ante- 
room was  needed  for  the  accommodations  of  the 
twenty-eight  councillors. 

It  seems  that  in  this  chamber  the  Overseers  of  Har- 

Commissions  were  produced  and  Read,  Oaths  given.  ...  At  length  the 
Governor  dictated  to  the  Clerk  to  this  purpose.  Whether  the  Government 
was  devolved  on  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  the  Commission  of  Gov'.  Bur- 
gess nor  any  copy  of  it,  not  being  arrived.  It  was,  nemine  contradicente, 
carried  in  the  Negative."     (Sewall,  Ui.,  59.) 

' "  Feb.  12,  1717-18.  I  salute  Cousin  Quincy  in  Council.  .  .  .  The 
Governour  calls  me  into  the  Closet  and  tells  me  he  would  make  me  Chief 
Judge."     (Sew.1,11,  iii.,  1G8.) 

"  Feb.  25,  1718-19.  The  judges  meet  p.  m.  in  the  Council  Chamber, 
before  the  Meeting  of  the  Council.  .  .  .  Then,  in  the  Closet,  voted  it  con- 
venient to  have  two  Clerks."     (Sewall,  iii.,  213  ) 

"Dec.  19,  1722.  His  Excellency  took  me  aside  to  the  South-East  win- 
dow of  the  Council  Chamber  to  speak  to  me.  .  .  .  Dec.  21.  The  Governor 
took  me  to  the  window  again  looking  Eastward,  ne.xt  Mrs.  Phillips',  and 
spake  to  me  again."     (Sewall,  iii.,  315.) 


OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  49 

yard  College  met  at  times,  as  did  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  among  the 
Indians,  March  27,  1729  (Sewall,  iii.,  395).  Once, 
March  29,  1720  (Sewall,  iii.,  248),  the  "Inspectors 
of  the  Grammar  Schools  "  of  Boston  niet  there.  The 
chamber  was  also  used  as  a  consultation  room  for  the 
judges.^"  N'otwithstanding  the  order  to  construct  a 
west  room  for  the  courts,  it  is  very  doubtful  if  this 
were  really  done.  In  1717  Sewall  speaks  of  a  trial 
held  in  the  old  meeting-house  opposite,  while  sentence 
was  pronounced  in  the  coui't  chamber."  Was  not  this 
the  chamber  of  the  Great  and  General  Court,  that  is, 
our  House  of  Representatives?  When  the  fire  of  1747 
took  place,  mention  is  made  of  the  "  Council  Cham- 
ber, the  Chamber  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  the  Apartments  thereof,  in  that  Story."  Another 
account  speaks  of  "the  Council  Chamber"  and  "both 
the  Lobbies,"  and  also  the  "  Offices  kept  in  the  Upper 
Story  " ;  but  it  says  "  the  County  Records  and  Papers 
belonging  to  the  Inferior  Court  being  deposited  in  an 

'""Feb.  13,  1718-19.  All  the  Judges  desired  to  be  at  the  Governor's 
house  at  5  p.m.  Met  accordingly.  .  .  .  The  Judges  went  to  the  Council 
Chamber,  &c.,  &.c." 

"  "  May  9,  1717.  Jeremy  Phenix  arraigned  in  the  Court  Chamber.  10. 
Try'd  in  the  old  Meeting-house.  Mr.  Auckmooty  was  Counsel  for  the 
Prisoner  and  had  family  with  him  in  the  Fore-seat  of  the  Women,  though 
he  bo  bound  over  for  notorious  words  against  the  Government."  "May 
11th.  I  pass'd  Sentence  upon  Phenix,  the  Chief  .Justice  being  absent 
This  was  done  in  the  Court  Chamber."     (Sewall,  iii.,  130.) 


50  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

Office  upon  the  lower  Floor,  were  most  of  them  pre- 
served." 

There  is  proof  that  the  Council  Chamber  was  the 
scene  of  festivities  on  state  occasions,  such  as  the 
birthday  of  the  sovereign  or  his  accession,  the  arrival 
of  a  new  governor,  etc.^^  Hei-e  also  Avere  held  pub- 
lic funerals,  as  in  the  case  of  Fitz-John  Winthrop." 
From  the  balcony,  at  the  east  end,  it  was  customary 
to  proclaim   the  laws,  with  sound  of  trumpets  and 


'-October  5,  1716,  Gov.  Sliute  arrived  in  Ro.ston.  "Ministers  met  the 
Governor  a  little  before  lie  got  to  the  Town  House.  Col.  Joseph  Dnilley 
nearer,  and  went  up  and  sat  with  the  Council.  Col.  Tailer  met  the  Governor 
at  the  Stairs,  and  took  place  of  Lt.-Gov.  Dummer :  and  when  Dummer  was 
sworn,  gave  him  the  place.  Gov.  [Shute],  Lt.  Gov.  [Dummer]  laid  their 
hands  on  the  Bible,  and  Kissed  it  very  industriously."     (Sewall,  iii.,  105.) 

The  return  of  Gov.  Shirley,  Nov.  7,  1745,  after  the  surrender  of  Louis- 
burg,  was  here  celebrated  (S.  G.  Drake,  Hist  ,  p.  G21),  and  so,  also,  on  June 
24,  174G,  was  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Pepperell  :ind  .Ulniiral  Warren.  On  the 
18th  Sept.,  1749,  the  indemnity  voted  by  Parliament  arrived,  amounting  to 
£183,649.  At  that  time  a  pound  sterling  tijualled  eleven  pounds  old  tenor, 
or  thirty  shillings  new  tenor,  so  great  had  been  the  deiireciation  of  paper 
money. 

""March  23,  1714-15.  Mr.  Addington  [the  late  Secretary]  buried  from 
the  Council  Chamber;  'twas  a  sad  spectacle."     (Sewall,  iii.,  41.) 

"Nov.  14th,  1717.  Attended  the  Funeral  of  Major-General  Wintlirop. 
The  Corpse  was  carried  to  the  Town  House  the  night  before  :  now  buried 
from  the  Council  Chamber.  Bearers,  his  Excellency  the  Governor  [Shute], 
Gov.  Dudley:  Lt.  Gov.  Diiiiimor,  (^ol.  Taylor:  Col.  Elisha  Sew:Ul,  Sanniel 
Sewall,  Scarfs  and  Kiii;;s.  The  Regiment  attended  in  Arms.  Mr.  John 
Winthrop  led  the  Widow.  'Twas  past  five  before  we  went.  The  Streets 
were  crowded  with  jieoide :  was  laid  in  Gov.  Winthrop's  Tomb  in  Old 
Burial  Place."     (Sewall,  iii.,  147.) 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  51 

beat  of  drums;'*  and  doubtless  from  so  convenient 
an  elevation,  loyal  addresses  were  delivered  to  the 
assembled  townsmen  on  occasion. 

As  it  happens,  we  know  much  less  of  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  Representatives'  Hall  at  this  period,  as 
our  chief  authority,  Sewall,  was  a  councillor  and 
judge.  We  know  that  the  number  of  deputies  was 
one  hundred  and  thi'ee  in  1720,  and  as  new  towns 
were  corporated,  the  nmnber  rose  to  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  speaker  was  annually  chosen,  and  the  choice 
submitted  to  the  governor,  who  rarely  negatived. 
In  1705,  Thomas  Oakes;  in  1720,  Elisha  Cook;  in 
1739,  Paul  Dudley;  in  1741,  Samuel  Watts;  in  176(5, 
James  Otis,  were  respectively  chosen  and  set  aside. 
The  House  also  elected  a  clerk,  but  the  office  was 
generally  continued  from  year  to  year. 

The  forms  of  the  House  were  pi'obably  copied 
from  those  of  Parliament,  the  council  figuring  as 
our  House  of  Lords.  The  will  of  the  Governor 
was  signified  by  messages  or  speeches;  the  wishes 
of  the  deputies  b}'^  committees  and  by  messages. 
Hutchinson  says  (ii.,  259) ,  apropos  of  a  quarrel  be- 
tween  Governor  Dudley  and   the  House   about  the 

'■'  "Feb.  4th,  1714-15.  Drew  up  a  Proclamation.  .  .  .  Publish'd  it  liy 
Boat  of  Drum.  Paper  was  sullied  witli  the  Rain.  Mr.  Ililler  read  it  out  of 
the  Council-Chamber  Gallery.  Col.  Checkley,  Major  Fitch,  Capt  Abijah 
Savage,  &c.,  present."     (Sewall,  iii.,  38.) 


52  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEBIOATION. 

power  of  adjournment, "  It  has  always  been  the  prac- 
tice of  the  House,  before  and  since,  upon  a  message 
fi'om  the  Governoi-,  to  stop  all  business  and  go  up 
without  delay."  It  seems  also  that  divisions  of  the 
House  were  made  by  going  to  the  north  and  south 
sides.'*  We  infer  from  this  that  the  speaker  sat  at 
the  Avcst  end,  facing  the  main  doors,  and  that 
the  deputies  were  marshalled  by  him  on  either 
hand. 

The  town  recoi'ds  contain  but  very  little  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  Town  Hoiise  from  1711  to 
1747. 

The  following  items  are  all  that  have  been  gleaned 
by  an  examination  of  the  indices  to  the  volumes. 

Sept.  25,  1710,  the  selectmen,  learning  that  a  sale 
of  a  ship  had  been  appointed  by  the  Court  of 
Admiralty  "  at  the  place  where  the  Court  is  held," 
voted  that  "  the  management  of  a  Publick  sale  in  the 
Town  House  is  forreign  from  the  declared  Intentions 
in  Erecting  thereof,  and  that  such  a  President  may 
be  of  111  Tendency." 

April  27,  1719,  "Mr.  John  Flagg  is  directed  to 
cleanse  the  Windows  of  the  Town  House." 

"".Tunc  Kltli,  1717.  Council  ilpclarcil  Unit  Cambridge  is  the  Shire-town 
for  Middlesex."  "  1-t.  The  Deputies  Concur.  Could  not  tell  by  lifting  up 
tlie  Hands,  were  fain  to  divide  tlie  House.  Tliey  for  Cambridge  went  to  tlie 
Nortli  side,  they  for  Charlestown  to  the  Soutli.  Cambridge  had  4(!,  Charles- 
town  41,  as  Brother  Nortliend,  one  of  tlie  Monitors,  informed  me."  (Sewall, 
iii.,  132.) 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATIO\.  53 

1717-1718.  Benjamin  Bagnakl  agrees  to  make  a 
Town  Clock  "and  if  desired  he  will  make  the  same 
to  go  as  an  eight  day  Clock  in  the  jjlace  where  it 
now  stands."  April  25,  1735.  Bagnald  is  to  take 
care  of  the  Town  clock  at  the  Old  Meeting  House, 
for  one  year,  for  £10. 

Feb.  13,  1733-4.  The  selectmen  voted  "  that  to- 
morrow at  three  of  the  clock  the  select  men  meet  at 
the  Town  House  to  view  the  small  arms  lodged  in 
the  Town's  Armoury,  and  that  Mr.  Treat,  gunsmith, 
be  ordered  to  attend  and  assist  at  the  vicAV."  Ac- 
cordingly, Messrs.  Treat  and  Miller,  gunsmiths, 
"  were  directed  to  proceed  with  all  the  expedition 
]:)0ssible  to  the  cleaning  the  ai'ms,  and  putting  them 
in  order  for  us,  when  occasion  shall  require." 

Feb.  25, 1733-4.  "  Voted  that  speedy  care  be  taken 
to  fit  up  a  proper  office  for  the  Town  Clei'k,  for 
reposing  and  securing  his  books,  and  that  it  be  in 
part  of  the  Green  Chamber." 

July  13,  1736,  the  selectmen  voted  "  to  repair  the 
balcony  at  the  east  end  of  the  Town  House,  fronting 
King  St." 

Aug.  27,  1736,  voted  also  "  to  order  the  new  paint- 
ing the  sun  Dials  on  the  Town  House,  and  to  clear 
the  gutters  and  water-spouts  belonging  to  it." 

June  14,  1738.  They  voted  "  to  put  a  good  and 
substantial  post  at  each  corner  of  the  westerly  end 
of  the  Town  House  to  j^revent  damage  by  carts." 


54  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

July  20,  1738,  "to  take  care  that  the  easterly 
stairs  of  the  Town  House  be  repaired." 

Oct.  31,  1739.  They  leased  for  one  year,  for  £30, 
to  Joseph  Savell,  wine  cooper,  tAvo  cellars  under  the 
Town  House  lately  occupied  by  Jonathan  Williams 
and  James  Townsend:  viz.,  one  at  the  south-west  cor- 
ner and  the  other  at  the  north-east  corner.  In  1741 
these  were  let  respectively  to  Samuel  Weutworth  and 
John  Gooch.  Dec.  24, 1740,  John  Buttolph  leased  a 
cellar  there,  formerly  occupied  by  his  father,  for  £22. 

Aug.  3,  1743,  "the  east  end  of  the  Town  House 
to  be  put  in  repairs  and  other  necessary  repairs 
within  side." 

Sept.  5,  1744,  "  voted  to  repair  the  chimneys  in  the 
Town  House." 

In  this  chamber,  from  1711  to  1747,  presided  as 
Governor,  Joseph  Dudley,  William  Tailer,^^  Samuel 
Shute,  William  Dummer,  Jonathan  Belcher  and 
AVilliam  Shirley,  all  upright  and  wortliy  men,  but  all 
of  them  so  hampered  by  restrictions  from  the  home 
government,  as  to  be  frequently  involved  in  disputes 
with  the  representatives  of  the  people.  During  this 
period  the  population  increased  steadily  from  eleven 
thousand  in  171.')  to  seventeen  thousand  in  1744, 
though  after  the  last  date  it  remained  stationary  or 
slightly  decreased. 


'^Tailer  and  Diihiiikt  were  Lieutenant  Governors,  aeting  in  the  plaec  of 
the  Governors. 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  55 

It  was  in  this  chamber  that  there  was  phinned, 
in  1746,  the  miUtary  enterprise  which  was  the 
proudest  boast  of  our  provincial  history.  In  Janu- 
ary of  tliat  year  Gov.  Shirley  laid  before  the 
Legislature,  under  a  pledge  of  secrecy,  his  project 
of  capturing  Louisburg  from  the  French,  by  means 
of  provincial  troops  only.  On  January  25  the 
consent  of  the  House  was  carried  by  a  single 
vote.  William  Pepperell,  a  member  of  the  Council, 
was  given  command,  and  by  April  1  our  troops 
had  arrived  at  Canso.  The  fortunate  arrival  of 
Admiral  Warren,  with  a  considerable  fleet,  was 
one  of  the  many  lucky  accidents  which  turned 
this  quixotic  scheme  into  a  glorious  success.  On 
June  17  the  fortress  surrendered,  and  the  "  Gib- 
raltar of  America"  became  our  prize. 

It  was  a  splendid  victory,  for  it  gave  assurance 
to  England  that  a  new  military  power  had  arisen 
in  her  colonies,  and  one  thus  far  entirely  loyal 
to  the  crown.  As  Palfrey  says,  "As  things 
turned  out,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the 
capture  of  Louisburg  gave  peace  to  Europe." 

It  was  not  until  the  following  year  that  Pep- 
pei'ell  was  able  to  receive  the  deserved  honors 
which  his  countrymen  were  ready  to  shower 
upon  him. 

The  Boston  Evening  Post,  for  Monday,  June 
30,    1746,    describes   the    arrival,   on   the   preceding 


56  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

Tuesday,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  "  Chestei-,"  of  50 
Sfuns,  brinsriiiff  Admiral  Peter  Warren  and  Sir 
"William  Pepperell.  The  Governor  met  them  at 
Castle  William,  and,  landing  at  Long  wharf  about 
five  o'clock,  "  they  were  received  and  congratulated 
by  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  his  Majesty's 
Council  and  House  of  Kepresentatives,  and  being 
attended  liy  his  Excellency's  Company  of  Cadets 
under  arms,  made  a  handsome  pi'ocession  to  the 
Council  Chamber." 

Then  the  Speaker  and  the  House  proceeded  to 
the  Council  Chamber,  where  a  brief  address  was 
made  to  Warren  and  Pepperell,  who  as  briefly 
replied.  Later  a  committee  of  the  House  was 
appointed  to  congratulate  Brigadier  General  Samuel 
AValdo, ''on  liis  .safe   return  to  his  native  country." 

It  was  from  the  veterans  of  the  French  wars 
of  this  period  that  the  heroes  of  the  war  of  In- 
dependence were  drawn.  But  for  the  martial 
spirit  aroused  by  these  campaigns,  and  the  lessons 
of  military  science  therein  taught,  oui-  foi'c fathers 
would  have  been  but  an  undisciplined  mob  in 
1775.  To  give  one  exam])le:  Col.  Richard  Gi-id- 
ley,  who  commanded  the  arlilleiy  at  Louisbui'g, 
thirty  years  latei-,  traced  and  consti'ucted  the 
battery  on  Bunkei-\s  Hill. 

In  I^ovember,  1747,  the  Town  House  Avas  the 
centre    of  another  uprising.     Commodore    Ivnowles 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  57 

was  in  command  of  a  fleet  \y\ng  off  the  harlior. 
Having  lost  some  deserters,  he  sent  a  press-gang  into 
the  harbor,  seizing  sailors  from  the  ships,  and  even 
landsmen  from  the  wharves.  There  was  at  ouce  an 
outburst  of  popular  indignation,  in  whicli  all  ranks 
joined.  "  As  soon  as  it  was  dusk,  several  thousand 
people  assembled  in  King  street,  below  the  Town 
House,  where  the  General  Court  was  sitting.  Stones 
and  l)rick  batts  were  thrown  through  the  glass  into 
the  Council  Chamber.  The  Governor  [Shirley], 
however,  with  several  gentlemen  of  the  Council  and 
House,  ventm-ed  into  the  balcony  "  (Hutchinson,  ii., 
432),  and  after  silence  was  obtained  addressed  the 
assemblage.  He  promised  to  try  to  obtain  the 
release  of  the  townsmen ;  but  the  crowd  was  not  to 
be  thus  pacified.  For  three  days  the  contest  con- 
tinued, the  people  having  seized  some  of  the  officers 
from  the  fleet  as  hostages,  and  the  commodore 
threatening  to  bombard  the  town  by  wnj  of  reprisal. 
Finally  the  Legislature  interjjosed  with  pi'omises  to 
both  sides;  the  im[)ressed  men  were  liberated  and  the 
squadron  sailed,  to  the  great  relief  of  all  in  authority. 
On  Wednesday,  December  9,  1747,  the  Town 
House  was  greatly  injured  by  a  fire.  The  following 
extract  from  the  newspapers  will  explain  the  extent 
of  the  loss :  — 

"Yesterday  iiioniing  between  6  &  7  o'clock  we  were  exceedingly 

surprised  by  n  most  terrible  Fire,  which  broke  out  at  the  Court 


58  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    UE-DEDICATION. 

House  in  this  Town,  whereliy  tluit  spacious  and  beautifnl  Building 
except  the  bare  outward  Walls,  was  (Mitircly  destroyed.  As  the 
Fire  began  in  the  middle  or  second  Story,  the  llecords,  Books, 
Papers,  Furniture,  Pictures  of  the  Kings  and  (Jueens,  &c.,  which 
were  in  the  Council  Chamber,  the  Chaml)erof  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives and  tlie  Apartments  tiiereof,  in  tiiat  Story,  were  con- 
sumed ;  as  were  also  the  Books  and  Papers  in  the  Offices  of  the 
upper  Story  :  Those  in  the  Offices  below  wore  mostly  saved.  In 
the  Cellars  which  were  hired  by  several  persons,  a  great  quantity 
of  Wines  and  other  Liquors  were  lost.  The  publick  Damage 
sustain'd  I)}'  this  sad  Disaster  is  inex])ressibly  great  and  the  Loss 
to  some  particular  Persons,  'tis  said  will  amount  to  several  Thou- 
sand Pounds.  The  Vehemence  of  the  Flames  occasiou'd  such  a 
great  Heat  as  to  set  the  Roofs  of  some  of  the  opposite  houses  on 
Fire  notwithstanding  they  had  been  covered  with  Snow,  and  it  was 
extinguished  with  much  Difficulty.  How  the  Fiie  was  occasiou'd, 
whether  bj'  Defects  in  the  Chimney  or  Hearth  as  some  think,  is 
uncertain."  — Boston  Weekly  JVew'.s-  Lftter,  Tlatrsday.  December  \Q, 
1747. 

The  account  in  the  Boston  Evening  Post,*  for  the 
fourteenth  of  December,   adds:  — 

"  The  fine  Pictures  and  other  Furniture  in  the  Council  Chamber 
were  destroyed  as  were  also  the  Books,  Papers  and  Records  in 
both  the  Lobbies,  and  those  in  the  Offices  kept  in  the  ui)per  Story  ; 
but  the  County  Records  and  Papers  belonging  to  the  Inferiour 
Court,  being  deposited  in  an  Office  upon  the  lower  Floor,  were 
most  of  them  preserved." 

The  same  jiaper  prints  the  following  extracts 
from  the  Journal  of  the  Mouse  of  liepresentatives  :  — 

*  The  account  in  the  Gazette  is  in  Aoucndix  J. 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  59 

"12  December,  A. D.  1747. 

"  Upon  a  motion  made  and  seconded, 

"  Resolved,  that  the  House  now  make  ])articular  Enquiry  how 
the  late  Fire  in  the  Court  House  was  first  discovered,  and  by  what 
Means  it  was  occasioned.  After  examining  the  Door-keeper  and 
receiving  a  particular  account  of  the  Time  and  Circumstances  of 
his  leaving  the  House  the  Evening  before,  and  enquiring  of  those 
Gentlemen  who  early  discovered  the  Fire. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  appears  to  the  Satisfaction  of  this  House,  that 
the  late  Fire  which  consumed  the  Court  House,  proceeded  from  the 
Wood-work  under  the  Hearth  taking  Fire,  and  that  the  Fire  first 
broke  out  in  the  Entry-way  between  the  Council  Chamber  and  the 
Representatives  Room,  and  from  thence  went  up  the  Stair  Case, 
and  through  the  Roof,  and  continued  until  the  House  was  con- 
sumed." 

The  following'  letter  of  Secretary  Willard  to 
Christopher  Kilby  and  William  Bollan,  agents  of  the 
province  in  London,  is  copied  from  vol.  1  of  the 
"  Kecords  of  Piymonth  Connty,"  giving  the  "Acts 
of  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  of  Kevv 
England,"  edited  by  DaAdd  Pulsifer:  — 

"Boston,  Dec'r  21,  1747. 
"  Gentlemen  I  am  now  to  give  you  the  sorrowful  News  of  the 
grievous  &  surprizing  Rebuke  of  Diviue  Providence  on  the  Gov- 
ernni'nt  of  this  Province  in  the  Destruction  of  the  Court  House  by 
Fire  which  happened  in  the  Morning  of  the  ninth  Instant.  It  was 
generally  concluded  to  have  begun  in  the  Floor  under  the  chimneys 
of  the  Council  Cliamber  &  House  of  Repi'esent'ves  &  was  not 
discover'd  till  it  was  greatly  increased  ;  All  the  Books  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  Govern'r  &  Council   &  House  of  Reprent'vcs  there  in 


60  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEUICATION. 

the  House  were  wholly  lost  without  saviug  one  &  ;ill  the  Hooks  of 
Comniiss'ns  and  other  Instrum'ls  as  well  from  the  Crown  as  the 
Goverum't  of  the  Province  with  most  of  ye  original  Papers  are 
likewise  consumed." 

The  General  Court  was  offered  the  use  of  Faneuil 
Hall,  but  was  accommodated  ibr  the  few  days 
remaining  in  the  session  at  the  Royal  Exchange 
tavern,  kept  by  Luke  Vardy,  on  the  west  corner  of 
our  present  Exchange  and  State  streets.'^ 

It  seems  that,  as  in  1711,  the  expense  of  the  repairs 
was  paid,  one-half  by  the  Province,  one-quarter  each 
by  the  town  of  Boston,  and  the  county  of  Suffolk. 
The  expense  was  £3,705  11, s.  4:d.  lawful  money. 
Whatever  plans  were  made  for  this  restoration,  it 
would  seem  that  the  exterior  walls  at  least  were  not 
touched.     (See  Appendix  C.) 

Fortunately,  as  in  ^N^eal's  case,  in  1720,  we  have 
a  description  of  the  new  building  from  one  who 
saw  it  in  its  freshness.     Capt.  Francis  Goelet  (whose 

"  The  ratluT  clnirlisli  vote  of  the  Selectmen,  as  given  below,  may 
explain  the  ilisinclination  of  the  Governor  to  aceept  the  offer :  — 

Dee.  HI,  \H7.  Voted  "that  liberty  bo  and  hereby  is  granted  to  his 
Excellency  the  Guvernonr  and  the  Honorable  his  Majesty's  (\>uncil  to 
improve  the  Chamber  in  Faneuil  Hall,  the  Selectmen  usuallj'  set  in  to  do 
business,  wlicn  they  shall  have  occasion  therefor  until  they  can  be  better 
provided :  and  that  the  Honorable  .Tosiah  Willard,  Esq''^.  Secretary  be 
allowed  to  make  nse  of  the  Office  under  the  stairs  in  Faneuil  Hall  which 
hath  been  inproved  for  the  Naval  Officer,  until  better  provided,  he  paying 
the  same  rent  Mr.  Overing  agreed  for,  to  commence  the  12"'.  instant." 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  (Jl 

journal  is  printed  in  the  IST.E  Historical  and  Genea- 
logical Register  for  1870,  p.  72)  thus  describes  it 
in  the  autumn  of  1750:  — 

"  Tlu'y  have  also  a  Town  House,  Imilt  of  Brick,  situated  in 
King's  street.  It's  a  very  Grand  Briciv  Building,  Arch'd  all 
Hound,  and  Two  Storie  Heigh,  Sash'd  above  ;  its  Lower  Part  is 
always  Open,  desigu'd  as  a  Change,  tho'  the  Merchants  in  Fair 
Weather  make  their  Change  in  the  open  Street  at  the  Eastermost 
End.  In  the  upper  Story  are  the  Council  and  AsseniMj'  C'ham- 
bers  &e.  It  has  a  neat  Capulo,  sash'd  all  round,  and  which  on 
rejoyciug  days  is  Elluuiinated.""' 

Capt.  Goelet  mentions  that  on  October  30th, 
His  Majesty's  Birth-day,  he  "  went  at  noon  with 
Capt.  Wendell  to  the  Councill  Chamber  in  the 
Towne  House,  where  [he]  drank  the  Loyall  Toasts 
with  the  Lieutenant  CTOvernor,  Councill,"  etc. 

By  the  records  of  the  House  it  appears  that 
Dec.  12,  1752,  there  was  paid  £6  13s.  4d.  to  Moses 
Deshon  "  for  the  arms  of  the  Colony  which  he  has 
carved,  and  put  up  in  the  House  of  Representatives." 

By  the  bill  of  the  painter  in  1773,  it  seems  that 
the  Colony  arms  still  remained,  while  the  King's 
arms,  also  then  paid  for,  were  probably  in  the 
Council  Chamber.     The  historic    Codfish    was    also 

"  Jany  17,  1749-50  "  voted  that  the  Engine  under  the  care  of  Mr  Thomas 
Reed  he  removed  to  the  celhir  tinder  the  Town  House  as  soon  as  may  he, 
and  that  Mr  Cooke  be  desired  to  get  a  Platform  laid,  and  what  else  may 
be  necessary  to  be  done  for  the  same." —  Selectmen's  Records. 


62  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEniCATION. 

mentioned,  and  various  pictures,  of  which  the  only 
one  named  is  that  of  Gov.  Bunu't. 

"Very  strangel}',  it  api)ears  l)y  the  "Boston  Post 
Boy"  of  Juno  Kith,  1700,  that  a  gallery  was  put  in 
the  Representatives'  Hall,  though  it  is  hard  to  imagine 
where  space  was  found  for  it."  Chandeliers,  of 
course,  hung  in  each  hall,  and  the  desk  of  the  Clerk 
or  Speaker  of  the  House  is  still  preserved  by  the 
Massachusetts  Historical   Society."" 

When  the  work  of  the  i-estoration  was  commenced 
last  year,  it  was  foiuid  that  the  fi-aming  of  the 
timbers  Avas  such  that  there  must  have  been  a 
circular  stairway  in  the  place  now  occupied  by  it, 
from  the  first  floor  to  the  halls,  and  that  the  landings 
must  have  presented  their  present  form. 

The  same  investigation  showed  that  the  Repre- 
sentatives' Hall  had  its  easterly  end  curved,  while 
the  Council  Chamber  was  square.  These  indications 
coincide  with  a  description  published  in  1791,  when 
the  halls  were  occupied  by  the   Legislature  of  the 

"  Hutchinson  says  (iii.  166),  under  date  of  17G7,  that  the  House  "had  caused 
a  gallery  to  be  built  and  opunud,  tliat  all  persons  inc-lineii  Id  it,  might  hear  tlieir 
debates ;  and  a  speccli,  well  adapted  to  the  gallery,  was  oftentimes  of  more 
service  to  the  cause  of  liberty  than  if  its  purposes  had  been  confined  to  the 
members  of  the  house." 

'"  Although  described  as  the  Speaker's  desk,  it  seems  almost  impossible 
that  it  could  have  been  so  used.  The  balusters  in  the  new  stairway  are  copied 
from  those  in  Gov.  Shirley's  house,  still  standing  in  Roxbury.  As  he  was  the 
governor  at  the  date  of  the  rebuilding,  in  1717,  no  l)ettor  exemplars  coiilil  l)e 
desired. 


(Jl.li     SlAll.      Ilol   SI,      IN       l,:i|.  I'lnlll    lllf     Ma>s;icllll>cll-     .\l;m;lzillr.  ) 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  (53 

State,  and  when,  apparently,  no  cliang-es  had  been 
made.  The  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  August, 
1791,  gives  a  south-west  view  of  tlie  building,  i.e., 
one  taken  from  the  Washington-street  end,  and  the 
following  description  is  added :  — 

"The  State  House  is  an  elegant  brick  building,  standing  at  the 
head  of  State  Street,  one  mile  and  2')7  yards  from  the  fortification. 
It  is  110  feet  in  length  and  thirty-eight  in  breadth.  The  founda- 
tions of  the  present  walls  were  laid  A.D.  1712,  the  former  State 
House  having  been  reduced  to  ashes  in  the  great  fire  of  the  pre- 
ceding j-ear.  The  internal  part  of  this  building  again  experienced 
the  desolating  tlarae  in  1747,  when  a  vast  nuin'iorof  ancient  booivs 
and  early  records,  together  with  a  collection  of  valuable  papers, 
were  destroyed,  and  to  the  ravages  of  this  calamity  we  m.ay  attrib- 
ute the  imperfect  accounts  that  are  to  be  obtained  of  the  first  and 
second  building.  The  ascent  to  the  lower  floor,  as  fronting  the 
Long  wharf,  is  l>y  an  elevated  flight  of  large  stone  steps,  railed 
round  with  neat  iron  balustrades.  There  are  three  other  entrances  : 
one  at  the  opposite  end,  facing  to  Cornhill,  and  the  other  two  in 
the  opposite  centres  of  the  length.  The  Clerks  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  and  Court  of  Common  Pleas  hold  their  offices 
upon  the  first  floor,  which  also  serves  in  bad  weather  as  an 
exchange  for  the  mercantile  part  of  the  community.  A  range 
of  Doric  pillars  support  the  floors  of  the  second  story,  which  is 
destined  for  the  accommodation  of  the  General  Legislature.  The 
Senate  Chamlier  is  thirty-two  feet  srpiare  and  fifteen  feet  in 
height,  furnisjied  with  a  convenient  lobby  for  committees  to 
transact  business  in.  The  Representatives'  Chamber  is  fifty-seven 
and  a  half  feet  in  length,'"  thirtj'-two  in  breadth,  and  the  same 

"  This  figure,  flfty-seven  and  one  half  feet,  is  an  impossibility,  being  more 
than  one-half  the    length  of   the    building.      But    tliirty-seven  and   one-half 


64  OLD  STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

height  ns  the  former,  with  a  wcll-eoiistriicted  lolili^^  The  third 
or  upper  stor^'  is  improved  liy  different  coniiiiitlees  (hiring  the 
session,  and  has  an  East,  West  and  South  lobhy  ;  beside  several 
apartments  for  piiblick  papers  and  records.  On  the  centre  of  the 
roof  is  a  tower,  consisting  of  three  stories,  finished  according  to 
the  Tuscan,  Dorick  and  loiiiek  orders  complete,  and  from  thence 
is  a  fine  prospect  of  the  Harbor  and  adjacent  Country." 

The  painter's  bilP^  of  1773  also  mentions  the  Lion 
and  the  Unicorn  which  crowned  the  ea.st  end  of 
the  exterior,  the  carved  corner-pieces  on  the  west 
front,  the  balcony  and  jiediment  in  front  at  the 
main  windoAV  of  the  Council  Chamber,  and  the 
steps,  which,  for  a  time,  reached  fi'om  the  first 
floor  down  State  street.-^ 

These  features  have  all  been  reproduced  in  the 
restored  building.  It  Avas,  indeed,  a  question  whether 
or  not  to  restore  the  royal  arms  npon  the  east  end, 
but  a  feature  so  distinctive,  architecturally,  could  not 
be  well  omitted.  Ha])pily,  no  one  will  to-day  misun- 
derstand the  feeling-  with  which  we  replace  this  me- 

feet  would  reach  exactly  to  the  line  of  the  curved  end  of  the  hall  as  shown 
on  Rogers'  plans  and  now  rcfonstructed.  Evidentl.v  tin-  writtr  put  liis  notes 
of  the  measurements  in  figures,  and  either  he  or  his  printer  mistook  thirty- 
seven  and  one-half  for  fifty-seven  and  one-half.  The  error  really  confirms 
the  exactness  of  tlie  record. 

"  This  document  is  print^Ml  in  .Aiipendi.x   K. 

"  These  steps  are  in  tlie  picture  painted  in  1801,  owned  by  the  His- 
torical Society,  but  were  removed  before  the  view  in  1821  was  taken. 
They  are  in   the  view  of  178.5  also,  and  are  nu-ntioned  in   171)1. 


ULV    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  05 

mento  of  our  colonial  clays,  —  a  recognition  merely  of 
the  facts  of  history,  neither  forgetful  of  the  protec- 
tion which  the  mother  country  once  extended,  noi- 
boastful  of  the  change  which  has  given  us  a  national 
coat-of-arms,  a  national  flag,  and  a  supreme  govern- 
ment, at  least  equal  to  those  which  we  renounced  a 
century  ago."* 

It  is  certain  that  prior  to  the  fire  in  174:7,  the  town 
had  ceased  to  regai-d  the  Town  House  as  its  partic- 
ular pride.  In  1740  Peter  Faneuil  had  offered  to 
the  town  a  building  for  a  market  and  a  Town  Hall, 
and  though  it  was  accepted  only  by  a  vote  of  307 
against  300,  the  work  was  accomplished.  On  the 
13th  SejJtember,  1742,  the  first  town-meeting  was 
held  there,  and  Faneuil  Hall  was  solemnly  so  entitled. 
(S.  G.  Di-ake,  Hist.  Boston,  p.  Oil.)  On  October 
0,  1742,  "  in  conformity  with  a  vote  of  the  Town  for 
removing  the  Town's  Books  and  papers  to  Faneuil 
Hall,  voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  move  said  Books 
and  papers  belonging  to  the  Town,  forthwith,  and 
that  Mr.  Savell  provide  Coal  for  the  selectmen  at 
their  meeting  there  on  Wednesday  next." 

The  first  meeting  of  the  selectmen  there  was  on 
October  13,  1742.     From  this  time  therefore  Faneuil 


"  In  delivering  this  address  the  words  "  royal  arms  "  were  used,  and  are 
therefore  retained.  Evidence  will  be  found  in  xVppendix  D  to  justify  the 
opinion  that  the  Lion  and  Unicorn  were  the  supporters  to  the  Province 
coat-of-arms,  and  that  they  figured  here  in  that  capacity. 


66  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    llE-DEDICATION. 

Hall  became  the  Town  Hall,  and  the  l)uil(ling-  on 
State  street  became  more  especially  the  place  for  tlie 
Legislature  and  Courts. 

One  other  vote  of  the  selectmen  at  this  time  may 
be  reproduced  as  showing  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
town:  "May  IG,  1744.  In  consideration  of  the 
difficult  circumstances  of  the  Province,  especially  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  and  the  little  advantage  in 
cleaning  the  glass  at  the  Town  House,  voted  that 
that  expense  and  charge  be  saved  for  the  present 
year." 

A  brief  account  of  Faneuil    Hall  and    its  vicissi- 
tudes will  be  found  in  Appendix  E. 


Having  thus  considered  the  history  of  the  walls  of 
this  building,  let  us  review  the  scenes  which  took 
place  therein.  During  the  administration  of  Shirley 
(1741-1757),  and  of  Pownall  (1757-1760),  the 
colony  was  undoubtedly  loyal.  The  great  expendi- 
tures made  by  England  to  carry  out  tlie  favorite  Avish 
of  the  colonists,  by  the  overthrow  of  the  French 
power  in  America,  had  not  only  pleased  but  enriched 
the  sea-board  colonies.  Many  of  our  citizens  served 
with  credit  in  tlu'  various  armies  which  attacked 
Canada;  many  others  had  served  in  the  navy  or  the 
transport  service,  and  Boston  especially  had  become 
accustomed  to  the   presence  of  English  troops  and 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION.  07 

Crown  officials.  Shii-lcy  had  identified  himself  with 
the  colony,  had  biult  a  house  here  and  reared  a 
ftimily  amid  Bostonian  surroundings.  His  ardor  in 
militaiT  affairs  led  him  to  be  less  strenuous  in  smaller 
civil  matters,  and  he  had  acquiesced  in  such  encroach- 
ments by  the  Legislature  as  restrained  the  power  of 
the  Crown  or  the  influence  of  the  Governor. 

Pownall's  short  I'ule  of  three  years  was  noteworthy 
mainly  for  its  military  record.^" 

In  August,  1760,  Francis  Bernaixl  arrived  here  to 
succeed  Pownall,  and,  five  months  later,  news  was 
received  of  the  accession  of  George  III.  With  the 
new  King  and  the  new  Governor  begins  the  closing 
chapter  of  our  colonial  histoiy.  This  is  not  the 
time  to  attempt  to  describe  the  causes  which  led  to 
the  Revolution,  except  in  so  fai'  as  any  important 
events  took  place  in  this  building.  Here,  under  this 
roof,  indeed,  were  encamped  the  hostile  forces  of  the 
civil  government.     In  this  room  the  Royal  Governor 


'^  John  Adams  says  (Works,  x.,  241-4),  "Pownall  was  a  Whig,  a  frieml 
of  liberty,  a  lover  of  his  country,  and  he  considered  North  America  a  part 
of  his  country  as  nnich  as  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland."  —  "  Pownall, 
when  he  came  into  administration,  thought  there  ought  to  be  a  good 
understanding  between  the  capital  and  country,  and  a  harmony  between 
botli  anil  tlie  government.  This  conciliatory  and  comjirehensive  system 
was  too  refined  and  too  sublime  for  human  nature  in  this  contentious, 
warring  world."  —  "  Pownall  w,as  the  most  constitutional  and  national 
Governor,  in  my  opinion,  who  ever  represented  the  crown  in  this  province. 
He  engaged  in  no  intrigues,  he  favored  no  conspiracies  against  the  liber- 
ties of  Amori<\a." 


68  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDTCATION. 

and  his  generally  subservient  Council  could  listen  to 
the  applause  which  greeted  the  impassioned  elo- 
quence of  the  popular  leaders  of  the  liepresentatives 
in  the  adjoining  hall,  as  they  gradually  developed  the 
ideas  of  "No  representation,  no  taxation,"  and  "Xo 
representation,  no  legislation,"  as  Hutchinson  scorn- 
fully termed  them.  (Hist.,  iii.,  1G4.)  How  often 
must  these  lobbies  and  entries  have  been  thronged  by 
the  citizens  of  Boston,  anxious  to  catch  the  latest  in- 
telligence of  royal  obstinacy  or  of  popular  indigna- 
tion !  In  those  days  the  press  was  so  circumscril^ed 
in  its  province,  that  the  news  was  only  to  be  ob- 
tained by  contact  with  the  actors;  and  here  was  the 
centre  of  all  that  absorbed  the  attention  of  the  com- 
munity. The  town-meetings  were  held  at  Faneuil 
Hall,^"  and  when  more  room  was  needed,  they  ad- 
journed to  the  Old  South  Church.  Yet,  powerful 
as  was  the  influence  of  Boston,  the  citizens  could 
only  issue  instructions  to  their  representatives  in  the 
august  body,  which,  in  these  halls,  spoke  in  the 
name  of  the  entire  colony.  It  will  be  necessary  to 
give  a  few  instances  of  the  occurrences  in  these 
apartments,  from  the  evidence  of  the  actors  therein. 


"It  is  often  forgotten  tliat  Faneuil  Hall  prior  to  A.U.  I.SOS  was  nuieli 
smaller  than  it  now  is.  The  addition  of  another  story  and  an  extension  on 
the  north  side  added  greatly  to  the  space.  Of  course  these  changes  have 
not  destroyed  the  identity  of  the  Iniilding,  liut  tliey  are  much  greater  than 
those  made  in  these  Memorial  Halls,  wliere  only  one  wall  has  heen  replaced 
in  each  room  and  in  the  same  position.    (Consult,  on  this  point,  Appendix  E.) 


OLD  STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION.  69 

On  Wednesday,  December  1(5,  17(51,  there  was  a 
military  funcial  held  here,  fully  described  in  tlie 
journals.  It  was  in  honor  of  Major-General  Edward 
"Whitniore,*  Governor  of  Loiiisburg,  who  was 
drowned  in  Plymontli  harbor  on  the  preceding- 
Friday.  The  procession  marched  from  the  Town 
House  to  the  King's  Chapel,  escorted  by  the  troop 
of  IIorse-Guards  and  the  company  of  Cadets.  The 
Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governoi',  the  Council, 
Judges,  Justices,  and  Ministers  followed  the  corpse, 
and  "  Minute  Guns  were  fired  to  the  amoimt  of  70, 
being  the  I^umber  of  Years  of  the  General's  Age." 
Edward  Whitmore,  Charles  Lawrence,  and  James 
Wolfe  were  tlie  brigadiers  under  Amherst  at  the 
capture  of  Louisburg,  in  1758.  Wolfe's  division 
had  the  largest  share  of  the  fighting,  but  after  the 
surrender  Whitmore  was  left  as  Governor  of  the 
Fort.  As  sucli  he  had  been  in  constant  otficial 
communication  with  IJoston  for  over  two  years,  and 
at  that  date  was  doubtless  better  known  here  than 
the  future  hero  of  the  capture  of  Quebec. 

*  This  General  Edward  Whitmore  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  3Gth  Foot 
in  1747,  and  Coluncd  of  22d  Foot,  11th  of  July,  1757,  in  whieh  post  he  was 
succeeded  by  Thomas  Gage,  afterwards  our  Governor.  He  left  several 
children,  the  oldest  being  Edward  Whitmore,  who  Avas  Captain  of  Royal 
Artillery,  10th  of  September,  17.j9,  and  died  in  180-1.  I  do  not  find  any 
relationship  between  him  and  Lieutenant-Genuial  William  Wliitmore, 
17G0,  Colonel  of'Otli  Foot,  1758-1771,  whose  family  was  of  note  in 
Shropshire. 


70  (n.D    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

In  17G1,  soon  after  Bernard's  arrival,  James  Otis, 
J  I'.,  aroused  the  public  by  his  famous  plea  against 
the  Writs  of  Assistance.  John  Adams  has  ad- 
mirably described  the  scene  in  this  hall,  in  a  letti'r 
written  to  a  friend  in  1817.  (Life  and  Works,  Yol. 
X.,  pp.  245-248.) 

"The  sceue  is  the  Council  clwmber  in  the  old  Town  House  in 
Boston.  The  date  is  in  the  month  of  February,  1761,  nine  years 
before  you  entered  my  office  iu  Cole  lane.  As  this  was  five  years 
before  you  entered  college,  you  must  have  bi'cn  iu  the  second 
form  of  Master  Lovell's  school. 

"That  Council  chamber  was  as  respectable  an  aijartraent  as  the 
House  of  Commons  or  tiie  House  of  Lords  in  Great  Britain,  in 
proportion,  or  that  in  the  State  House  in  Philadelphia,  iu  which 
the  Declaration  of  Indcpcndcuee  was  signed  in  177(1.  ]n  tiiis 
chamber,  round  a  great  fire,  were  seated  five  judges,  with  Lieu- 
teuant-Governor  Hutchinson  at  their  head  as  Chief  Justice,  all 
arrayed  in  their  new,  fresh,  rich  robes  of  scarlet  English  broad- 
clofli  :    iu   their  large  cambiic-  b;in(ls  and  inuuensc  judicial  wigs. 

"  In  this  chamlier  were  seated  at  a  long  table  all  the  barristers- 
at-law  of  Boston  and  of  the  neighboring  county  of  Middlesex, 
iu  gowns,  bands,  and  tie  wigs.  They  were  not  seated  on  ivory 
chairs,  but  their  dress  was  more  solenui  and  more  pompous  than 
that  of  the  Rom:iii  Senate,  when  llic  (iauLs  liroUe  in  n])on  tlieni. 

"  In  tin;  corner  of  the  room  nuist  b(^  placed  as  a  spectator 
and  an  auditor,  wit,  sense,  imagination,  genius,  pathos,  reason, 
prudence,  eloquence,  learning  and  immense  readii'g,  hanging 
by  the  shoulders  on  two  crutches,  covered  witii  a  great  cloth 
coat,  in  the  i)erson  of  Mr.  Pratt,  wlio  had  been  solicited  on 
both  sides,  but  would  engage  ou  neither,  being,  as  Chief  .lustiee 
of   New   York,   about    to    leave    Boston    forever.      Two    portraits. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  71  " 

at  more  thau  full  Icn^tli,  of  King  Charles  the  Second  and  of 
King  James  the  Second,  in  splendid  golden  frames,  were  hung 
up  on  the  most  conspicuous  sides  of  the  apartment.  If  my  young 
eyes  or  old  memory  have  not  deceived  me,  these  were  as  fine  pict- 
ures as  I  ever  saw ;  the  colors  of  the  royal  ermines  and  long, 
flowing  rolies  were  the  most  glowing,  the  figures  the  most  noble 
and  graceful,  the  fealuros  the  most  distinct  and  characteristic,  far 
superior  to  those  of  the  king  and  queen  of  France  in  the  Senate 
chamber  of  Congress  —  these  were  worthy  of  the  pencils  of 
Rubons  and  Vandyke.  There  was  no  painter  in  England  capable 
of  them  at  that  time.  They  had  been  sent  over  without  frames  in 
Governor  Pownall's  time,  but  he  was  no  admirer  of  Charles  or 
James.  The  pictures  were  stowed  away  in  a  garret,  among 
rubbish,  until  Governor  Bernard  came,  who  had  them  cleaned, 
supei'lily  framed,  and  placed  in  council  for  the  admiration  and 
imitation  of  all  men  —  no  doubt  with  the  advice  and  concurrence 
of  Hutchinson  and  all  his  nebula  of  stars  and  satellites. 

"  One  circumstance  more.  Samuel  Quincy  and  John  Adams  had 
been  admitted  barristers  at  that  term.  John  was  the  youngest ; 
he  should  be  painted  looking  like  a  short,  thick  archl)ishop  of 
Canterbury,  seated  at  the  fable  with  a  pea  in  his  hand,  lost  in 
admiration,  now  and  then  niinuiing  those  poor  notes  which  3-our 
pupil,  Judge  Minot,  has  printed  in  his  history,  with  some  interpo- 
lations." 

He  then  proceeds  to  describe  the  characters  in  the 
drama,  and  thus  depicts  the  chief:  — 

"  But  Otis  was  a  flame  of  fire.  Witli  a  promptitude  of  classical 
allusions,  a  depth  of  research,  a  rapid  summary  of  historical 
events  and  dates,  a  profusion  of  legal  authorities,  a  prophetic 
glance  of  his  eye  into  futurity,  and  a  torrent  of  impetuous 
eloquence,  he    hurried   away  cverj'thing   before   him.     American 


•72  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

iiidependenco  was  then  iiiid  Uicre  l)()iii ;  the  seeds  of  patriots  and 
heroes  were  then  and  there  sown,  to  defend  tlie  vigorous  youth, 
the  noil  sine  Diis  animosus  infans.  Every  man  of  a  crowded 
audience  appeared  to  me  to  go  away,  as  I  did,  ready  to  take 
arms  against  writs  of  assistance.  Then  and  there  was  the  first 
scene  of  the  first  act  of  opposition  to  the  arbitrary  claims  of  Great 
Britain.     Then  and  there  the  child  Independence  was  l)orn." 

The  immediate  result  was  a  modification  of  the 
form  of  the  writs;  but  the  greater  consequence  was 
the  i^rominence  of  Otis,  and  tlie  attention  called  to 
the  oppressive  character  of  the  English  revenue  laws 
when  applied  to  this  country. 

A  lull  succeeded  in  the  political  atmosphere  for 
the  next  two  years,  and  the  news  of  the  peace  with 
France,  received  here  in  May,  17(i3,  was  joyfully 
welcomed.  Soon,  however,  the  clouds  gathered, 
indicative  of  the  coming  storm.  The  vast  expense 
of  the  war  rendered  new  taxes  inevitable;  unfor- 
tunately, the  consideration  of  the  renewal  of  a  tax 
which  had  just  expired,  —  one  on  the  importation 
of  molasses  hito  the  colonies,  —  led  the  Grcuville 
ministry  to  determine  "to  raise  by  a  stamp  duty, 
or  in  some  other  way,  a  simi  from  America,  sufficient 
to  ease  government  in  ])art  from  the  futiu'e  chai-ges 
which  might  be  necessary  there."  (Hutchinson,  iii., 
109.) 

In  April,  1765,  news  was  received  of  the  passage 
of    the    act,    and    popular    opposition    was   at   once 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  73 

excited.  On  the  birtliday  of  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
August  12,  it  was  concerted  to  hang  the  appointed 
distributor  of  stamps  in  effigy.  This  was  done  two 
days  later,  the  image  being  suspended  from  the 
Liberty  Tree,  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Essex 
and  Washington  streets.  The  Council  was  hastily 
assembled,  but  prudently  advised  that  nothing  be 
done,  hoping  that  the  matter  would  end  there. 

"  Before  night  the  image  was  taken  down,  and  carried  through 
the  Town  House,  in  the  chamber  whereof  the  Governor  and 
Council  were  sitting.  Forty  or  fifty  tradesmen,  decently  dressed, 
preceded  ;  and  some  thousands  of  the  mob  followed  down  King 
street  to  Oliver's  dock,  near  which  Mr.  Oliver  liad  lately  erected 
a  building,  which,  it  was  conjectured,  he  designed  for  a  stamp 
office.  This  was  laid  flat  to  the  ground  in  a  few  minutes.  From 
thence  the  mob  proceeded  for  Fort  Hill,  but  Mr.  Oliver's  house 
being  in  the  way,  they  endeavored  to  force  themselves  into  it,  and 
being  opposed,  broke  the  windows,  beat  down  the  doors,  entered, 
and  destroyed  part  of  his  furniture,  and  continued  in  riot  until 
midnight  before  they  separated."      (Hutchinson,  iii.,  121.) 

On  the  evening  of  August  26  a  mob  collected  in 
King  street,  "drawn  there  by  a  bonfire,  and  well 
supplied  with  strong  drink."  They  plundered  the 
cellars  of  the  comptroller  of  customs,  and  then 
marched  to  the  house  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  in  Gar- 
den court,  near  Fleet  street,  where,  all  night  long, 
undisturbed  by  the  frightened  neighborhood,  the  work 
of  destruction  went  on.  These  inexcusable  outrages 
were  promptly  disavowed  in  town-meeting,  and  most 


7i  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

probably  were  the  work  of  those  turbulent  and  law- 
less men  who  always  appear  whenever  authority  is 
suspended,  to  dishonor  and  injure  the  cause  they 
nominally  support. 

When  the  Legislature  met,  on  October  24,  1765, 
Boston  was  represented  by  a  new  member,  —  Samuel 
Adams,  —  then  first  the  recipient  of  high  office,  but 
already  a  leader  among  the  advocates  of  independ- 
ence. Otis  was  in  IS^ew  York,  attending  a  conven- 
tion of  delegates  from  the  various  colonies,  which 
had  been  convoked  by  royal  authorit}^  The  differ- 
ence in  the  political  views  of  these  leaders  Avas 
marked,  though  it  did  not  prevent  their  unison  in 
many  points,  Otis  believed  that  Parliament  was  su- 
preme, but  that  the  Colonies  were  entitled  to  repre- 
sentation therein.  Adams  "professed  i)rinciples, 
which  he  owned  without  reserve  in  private  discourse, 
to  be  independency;  and,  Irom  time  to  time,  he  made 
advances  towards  it  in  publick,  as  far  as  would  serve 
the  great  purpose  of  attaining  to  it.  To  his  influence 
may  be  attributed  the  great  advance  made  in  this 
session."  (Hutchinson,  iii.,  134.)  On  the  29th  of 
October,  in  the  adjoining  hall,  the  House  jjassed  the 
famous  Resolves,  prepared  by  Samuel  Adams,  one  of 
which  declares,  "  That  all  acts  made  l)y  any  power 
whatever,  other  than  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Province,  imposing  taxes  on  the  inhabitants,  are 
infringements  of  our  inherent  and  unalienable  rights 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  7t> 

as  men  and  British  subjects,  and  render  void  the 
most  vahiable  declarations  of  our  charter." 

To  be  sure,  this  was  coupled  with  a  declaration  of 
loyalty  to  the  Crown  and  to  Parliament;  but  the  first 
resolve  contained  a  political  truth,  and  the  last  a 
politic  profession. 

On  May  16,  176(5,  the  news  of  the  repeal  of  the 
Stamp  Act  was  received  here,  and  caused  universal 
rejoicing.  In  September  the  Rockingham-Shelburne 
ministry  came  into  power,  and  was  believed  to  be 
friendly  to  the  Colonies.  The  Governor  here  had 
several  disputes  with  the  Legislature,  the  Council 
displayed  unusual  independence,  and  the  influence  of 
Adams,  now  promoted  to  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the 
House,^^  was  steadily  on  the  increase.  .  The  same  state 
of  aifairs  characterized  the  whole  of  the  following 
year,  1767,  until,  in  the  autumn,  news  was  received 
of  the  passage  of  an  act  levying  "  small  duties  on 
paper,  glass,  and  painters'  colors,  imported  into 
America;  to  take  off  12d.,  which  had  been  charged 
in  England  on  every  pound  of  tea  exported,  and  to 
lay  3d.  only,  payable  upon  its  importation  into 
America."  (Hutchinson,  iii.,  179.)  Commissioners 
were  appointed  to  enforce  the  customs'  laws,  and  an 
. — — f 

"'  "  The  office  having  some  emolument,  it  had  generally  been  filled  by  (me 
of  the  members,  who  took  the  same  share  in  debating  and  voting  as  if 
he  had  not  been  clerk,  and  rather  acquired  than  lost  influence  by  being  so.'' 
(Hutchinson,  iii.,  148.) 


76  OLD    STATE    HOrSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

act  was    passed    legalizing-   the   writs  of  assistance, 
under  which  search  was  made  for  smuggled  goods. 

In  February,  1768,  the  House  passed  a  bill  order- 
ing letters  to  be  written  to  the  other  colonies,  "  with 
respect  to  the  importance  of  joining  with  them  in 
petitioning  His  Majesty  at  this  time."  This  was 
Adams'  measure,  —  a  potent  weapon  in  the  coming 
conflict.  Another  resolve  was,  "that  this  House  will, 
by  all  pi'udent  means,  endeavor  to  discountenance 
the  use  of  foreign  superfluities,  and  to  encourage  the 
manufactures  of  this  Province." 

The  English  government  demanded  the  rescinding 
the  vote  authorizing  the  Circular  Letter,  but  the 
House,  by  a  vote  of  92  to  17,  refused  obedience. 
"The  galleries  were  cleared,  and  all  communication 
with  the  other  Board  or  from  the  outside,  was  shut 
off  during  the  debate."  (Life  of  S.  Adams,  i.,  iii.) 
Even  a  committee  of  the  Council,  with  certain  reso- 
lutions of  that  branch,  was  refused  admittance. 

The  House  was  prorogued  the  same  day,  and 
dissolved  the  next  day,  but  not  till  it  had  passed  an 
address  to  the  king,  asking  for  the  i-emoval  of  Gov- 
ernor Bernard. 

An  ill-advised  measure  at  this  time  added  to  the 
popular  discontent.  Owing  to  Bernard's  representa- 
tions, it  had  been  decided  that  one  or  two  regiments 
should  be  sent  from  Halifax  to  Boston.  On  hearing 
of  the  riots  here,  the  government  in  England  ordered 


OLD    STATIC     HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  77 

two  more  regiments  fi-om  Ireland.  The  news  of  the 
first  order  was  received  in  Boston  about  the  begin- 
ning of  Sei^teraber,  1768,  and,  as  the  Legislature  was 
not  expected  to  meet  for  a  year,  the  town-meeting  of 
Boston  took  action.  On  learning  from  the  Governor 
that  the  troops  were  soon  to  arrive,  —  one  regiment 
for  the  Castle  and  two  for  the  toAvn,  —  the  meeting 
voted  to  hold  a  convention  on  September  22,  of 
delegates  from  all  the  other  towns,  "  in  order  that 
such  measures  may  be  concerted  and  advised,  as  His 
Majesty's  service  and  the  peace  and  safety  of  his 
subjects  in  the  province  may  require."  As  Hutchin- 
son says  (Hist.,  iii.,  205),  "It  must  be  allowed  by  all, 
that  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  had  a  greater 
tendency  towards  a  revolution  in  government  than 
any  preceding  measures  in  any  of  the  colonies.  The 
inhabitants  of  one  town  alone  took  upon  them  to 
convene  an  assembly  from  all  the  towns,  that,  in 
everything  but  in  name,  would  be  a  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives." A  most  just  comment;  and  let  us 
to-day  be  proud  of  the  fact  that  tlie  town  thus 
assuming  the  lead  was  Boston.  Although  the  result 
of  the  meeting,  which  was  duly  held  at  Faneuil  Hall, 
was  not  as  tangible  as  was  hoped,  it  showed  the 
colonists  how  to  proceed  towards  a  rebellion  whilst 
preserving  the  forms  of  law.  The  convention  ad- 
journed September  29,  the  day  after  the  fleet  and 
soldiers  reached  IS^antasket.     The  troops,  amounting 


78  OLD     STATE    imuSE    KE-DKniCATION. 

to  one  thousand  men,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dal- 
rymple,  landed  without  opposition.  One  regiment 
pitched  their  tents  on  the  Common;  the  others 
were  marched  to  Faneuil  Hall,  and,  after  some  dis- 
pute, Avere  sheltered  there  for  one  night.  "  The  next 
day.  Gov.  Bernard  ordered  the  doors  of  the  Town 
House  to  be  opened,  except  that  of  the  Council 
Chambei-;  and  such  part  were  lodged  there  as  Fan- 
euil Hall  rooms  would  not  accommodate.  The  Rep- 
resentatives' room  was  filled,  in  common  with  the 
rest."     (Hutchinson,  iii.,  212.) 

Gen.  Gage  was  summoned  from  New  York,  and 
the  Council  attempted  to  find  a  Avay  to  satisfy  both 
sides.  The  result  was  that  houses  were  hired  for  the 
troops,  but  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Town 
House.  The  quartering  of  troops  at  this  spot  was 
felt  keenly  by  the  province.  The  next  town-meeting 
demanded  of  Gen.  Mackay,  then  in  command,  the 
removal  of  the  troops  on  election  day.  He  replied 
that  he  could  not  do  this,  but  would  confine  them  to 
their  barracks.  "When  the  Legislature  met,  in  May, 
1769,  its  first  work,  after  organizing,  was  to  resolve 
that,  "an  armanent  by  sea  and  land  investing  the 
metropolis,  and  a  military  guard,  with  cannon  pointed 
at  that  very  door  of  the  State  House,  where  this  As- 
sembly is  held,  is  inconsistent  with  that  dignity,  as 
well  as  that  freedom,  with  which  we  have  a  right  to 
deliberate,    consult,    and    determine."     They    added 


OLD    STATE    IIOUSK    KE-DEDICATION.  79 

that  they  expected  the  Governor  to  order  the  removal 
of  these' forces  during  the  session  of  the  Assembly. 
As  they  refused  to  transact  business  while  the  troops 
remained,  and  as  the  Governor  would  not  consent,  he 
adjourned  the  Legislatm^e  to  Cambridge.  Finally, 
two  reghnents  were  sent  back  to  Halifax,  the  14th 
and  29th  remaining  here. 

Another  deeply  exciting  trial  at  this  time  inten- 
sified the  popular  indignation. 

April  22,  1769,  a  press-gang  from  the  "  Rose " 
frigate,  under  Lieut.  Panton,  boarded  a  ship  OAvned 
by  Mr.  Hooper,  of  Marblehead,  on  her  return  from 
Bilboa.  Michael  Corbet  and  three  others  resisted, 
and  the  officer,  Panton,  was  shot.  Hence  a  trial  in 
July,  by  a  special  Court  of  Admiralty,  of  these  four 
sailors  on  a  charge  of  piracy  and  murder.  John 
Adams  (Works,  X.,  205-207)  says,  that  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  trial,  on  the  presentation  of  the  pi'isoners' 
pleas,  Hutchinson  moved  "  that  the  Court  should 
adjourn  to  the  Council  Chamber."  "  The  prisoners 
were  remanded ;  parties,  witnesses,  counsel,  audience, 
dismissed;  and  the  Coiu't  adjourned  to  the  Council 
Chamber,  where  they  remained  in  secret  conclave 
till  late  in  the  evening." 

"  The  Court  met  again  early  next  morning,  in 
secret  conclave  in  the  Council  Chamber."  The  plea 
of  the  defence  was,  that  the  act  was  justifiable  homi- 
cide, and  this  was  the  decision  of  the  Court. 


80  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

Adams  adds,  "  One  circumstance  is  too  charac- 
teristic to  be  omitted.  The  counsel  for  the  prisoners, 
descending  from  the  chamber  where  the  Court  sat,  to 
the  lower  floor  of  the  Court  House,  Avas  met  at  the 
bottom  of  the  staii-s  by  the  boatswain  of  the  '  Eose.' 
'  Sir,'  said  he,  '  we  are  all  greatly  obliged  to  you 
for  your  noble  conduct  in  defence  of  these  brave 
fellows;  yet,  sir,  this  is  the  employment  in  which 
I  have  been  almost  constantly  engaged  for  tAventy 
years,  fighting  with  honest  men  to  deprive  them  of 
their  liberty.  I  always  thought  I  ought  to  be 
hanged  for  it,  and  now  I  know  it." 

Bernard  was  recalled,  and  sailed  on  July  31, 
17G9,  amid  demonstrations  of  popular  joy.  By 
his  departure  the  duties  devolved  upon  Thomas 
Hutchinson,  the  lieutenant-governor,  a  native  of 
Boston,  a  man  of  fortune  and  eminent  abilities, 
but  already  distasteful  to  his  fellow-citizens  as  the 
ablest  defender  of  the  royalist  views  in  the  colony. 
He  came  to  the  command  in  times  which  were  daily 
becoming  more  turbulent,  and,  having  persistently 
taken  the  part  of  the  Crown,  he  has  justly  forfeited 
all  claims  to  the  respect  of  the  descendants  of  the 
rebels. 

During  the  autunni  of  17()*.)  the  bitter  feeling 
between  the  colonists  and  the  loyalists  rapidly 
increased.  James  Otis  was  dangerously  Avounded 
in  an    affray    with   a    Crown    officer   in  the    British 


OM)    STATE     IIOUSK     lUO-DKDICATIOX.  81 

Coffee  House,  which  stood  on  State  street,  at  the 
present  No.  66.  It  is  probable  that  the  violence 
he  then  received  completed  the  overthrow  of  his 
intellect,  and,  thenceforward,  he  ceased  to  lead  in 
public  affairs.  Ou  the  2".Jd  of  February,  1770,  a 
local  riot  led  to  the  shooting,  by  one  Richardson, 
of  a  boy  named  Christopher  Snyder,  the  first  vic- 
tim to  the  evil  passions  excited  by  the  state  of 
afi'airs. 

The  merchants  of  the  town  had  been  nearly 
unanimous  in  giving  effect  to  the  popular  wish  to 
prevent  the  importation  of  English  goods,  although 
the  taxes  had  been  taken  off  of  all  imports  except 
tea.  Early  in  1770,  however,  a  new  turn  was  given 
to  popular  thought,  by  what  is  known  as  the  State- 
street  Massacre.  From  these  windows  we-  overlook 
the  scene  of  this  famous  event,  but  it  has  been  too 
often  described  to  need  moi*e  than  the  briefest 
reference.  A  fight  between  the  soldiers  and  the 
workmen  at  Gray's  ropewalk,  on  March  2,  1770, 
had  raised  a  resentment  in  the  minds  of  the  troops, 
which  led  to  fatal  results.  On  Monday  evening, 
March  5th,  the  soldiers  began  to  show  signs  of 
insubordination.  In  and  around  their  barracks,  in 
Dock  square,  they  assailed  the  passers-by  with 
threats  and  blows.  The  boys  of  the  town  rang 
the  bell  in  the  First  Church,  and  the  citizens  began 
to    throng    towards    the    Town    House.     A    large 


82  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

crowd  gathered  in  Duck  .square,  for,  in  those  days, 
a  few  minutes'  walk  would  bring  every  householder 
to  the  centre  of  the  town.  Here  a  leader,  pre- 
sumably William  Molineaux,  advised  the  people  to 
disperse  —  a  counsel  followed  by  part,  while  others 
started  for  State  street.  The  Custom  House  stood 
at  the  corner  of  State  and  Exchange  streets,  and 
there  a  sentinel  was  posted.  A  crowd  of  boys 
assaulted  him  with  snowballs,  until  a  messenger 
was  sent  hastily  to  the  guard-house  near  by.  Some 
seven  or  eight  men,  under  Capt.  Preston,  at  once 
rushed  to  the  i-elief  of  the  guard,  loaded  quickly, 
and  stood  at  bay.  The  mob  pressed  upon  them, 
striking  their  muskets,  and  otherwise  insulting 
them,  being  evidently  of  the  belief  that  the  soldiers 
would  not  fire.  The  order  was  given  to  present 
arms,  and  then  to  fire,  though  it  Avas  never  dis- 
covered who  gave  the  fatal  word.  A  rambling  fire 
by  the  guard,  at  these  close  quartei's,  killed  three 
persons  and  wounded  eight  others. 

At  once  the  partisans  of  each  side  rushed  to  the 
spot.  The  soldiers  were  drawn  up  in  order  of 
battle,  but  i-emained  under  the  control  of  their 
officers.  The  bells  of  the  churches  aroused  the 
alarmed  inhabitants,  who  thronged  the  street  to 
gaze  upon  the  blood-stained  snow,  which  testified 
to  the  awful  tragedy.  A  few  hastened  to  summon 
Gov.  Hutchinson,  who,  "to  satisfy  the  people,  called 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  83 

for  Captain  Preston,  and  inquired  wliy  he  fii'ed 
upon  the  inliabitants  without  the  direction  of  a 
civil  magistrate.  The  noise  was  so  great  that  his 
answer  could  not  be  understood,  and  some,  who 
were  apprehensive  of  the  lieutenant-governor's  dan- 
ger from  the  general  confusion,  called  out,  '  The 
Town  House!  the  Town  House!'  and,  with  irre- 
sistible violence,  he  was  forced  up  by  the  crowd 
into  the  Council  Chamber.  There,  demand  was 
immediately  made  of  him  to  order  the  troops  to 
withdraw  from  the  Town  House  to  their  barracks. 
He  refused  to  comply,  and,  calling  from  the  bal- 
cony, to  the  great  body  of  people  which  remained 
in  the  street,  he  expressed  his  great  concern  at  the 
unhappy  event,  assured  them  he  would  do  every- 
thing in  his  power  in  order  to  a  full  and  impartial 
incjuiry,  that  the  law  might  haA^e  its  course,  and 
advised  them  to  go  peaceably  to  their  several 
homes.  Upon  this  there  was  a  cry,  '  Home !  home ! ' 
and  a  great  part  separated  and  went  home."  — 
(Hutchhison,  iii.,  273.) 

Captain  Preston  and  the  soldiers  implicated  sur- 
rendered themselves  before  morning,  and  were  com- 
mitted to  prison.  This  was  not  sufficient  to  satisfy 
the  jjeople;  and  a  town-meeting  was  held  in  Faneuil 
Hall.  The  selectmen  had  already  waited  upori 
Hutchinson,  in  this  chamber,  to  demand  the  removal 
of  the  troops  from  the  town.     He  repeated  that  he 


84  OI,D    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DKI)ICATIOX. 

had  not    tlio   jjower,   but   .summoned    Colonels   Dal- 
rymple  and  Can-  to  confer  with  the  Council. 

Whi'n  the  selectmen  reached  the  meeting-  Samuel 
Adams  addressed  it.  A  committee  of  fifteen,  headed 
by  Adams,  proceeded  to  the  Council  Chamber  to 
repeat  the  demand  Ibi-  the  removal  of  the  troops. 
The  committee  presented  its  message  and  withdrew 
into  another  room  to  wait  for  an  answer.  Dah-ymple 
consented  to  withdraw  the  29th  Regiment  to  the 
Castle,  and  the  Ct)uncil  adjourned  till  the  afternoon, 
in  hopes  that  the  concession  would  prove  enough. 

At  three  o'clock  the  town-meeting  reassembled, 
but  adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church  to  accommo- 
date the  increasing  crowds.  "The  committee,  led 
by  Samuel  jVdams,  liis  head  bared  in  rovi'rence  to 
the  occasion,  and  his  gray  locks  flowing  in  the  wind, 
issued  from  the  Council  Chamber."  Througii  a 
crowd  reaching  to  the  church  the  committee  silently 
passed,  and,  in  the  presence  of  tln-ee  thousand  eager 
listeners,  the  proposal  of  the  ro^al  Governor  was 
announced.  It  was  at  once  voted  to  be  insufficient, 
anil  a  new  committee,  with  the  same  leader,  was 
appointed  to    make   a   final    demand. 

John  Adams  (Life  and  Works,  Vol.  X.,  p.  249) 
has  eloquently  described  the  scene  in  the  following 
words:  — 

"Now  for  the  i)ietni-('.  The  thcitre  and  the  soenory  are  the 
same   with   those   at   tlie   diseiissioii   of  writs  of  assistance.     Tlio 


SAMUEL    ADAMS. 


OT.D    STATE    IIOUSIO    KE-DEDICATION.  85 

saiiifi  i;l(>vi(.)U.s  portraits  of  King  Cliarlrs  II.  and  King  James  II., 
to  wliich  niiglit  be  aildrd.  and  should  lio  added,  little  miserable 
likenesses  of  Governor  Wintlirop,  Governor  Bradstreet,  Governor 
Endicott,  and  Governor  Belcher,  hung  up  in  obscure  corners  of  the 
room.  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson,  Commander-in-Chief  in 
the  absence  of  the  Governor,  must  lie  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
council  table.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dalrymi)le,  Commander-in-Chief 
of  His  Majesty's  military  forces,  taking  rank  of  all  His  Majesty's 
counsellors,  must  be  seated  by  the  side  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  province.  Eight  and  twenty 
counsellors  must  be  painted,  all  seated  at  the  council  board.  Let 
me  see —  what  costume?  What  was  the  fashion  of  that  da^-  in  the 
month  of  ;\Iarch?  Large  white  wigs,  English  scarlet  cloth  cloaks, 
some  of  them  with  gold-laced  hats,  not  on  their  heads,  indeed,  in  so 
august  a  presence,  but  on  the  table  before  them,  or  under  the  table 
beueath  them.  Before  these  illustrious  personages  appeared 
Samuel  Adams,  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
their  clerk,  now  at  the  head  of  the  committee  of  the  great 
assembly  at  the  Old  South  Church. 

"Such  was  the  situation  of  affairs  when  Samuel  Adams  was 
reasoning  with  Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Dalrymple.  He  had  fairly  di'iven  them  from  all  their  out- 
works, breastworks,  and  intreuchments  to  their  citadel.  There 
they  paused  and  considered  and  deliberated.  The  heads  of 
Hutchinson  aud  Dalrymple  were  laid  together  in  whispers  for  a 
long  time  ;  when  the  whispering  ceased,  a  long  aud  solemn  pause 
ensued,  extremelj'  painful  to  an  impatient,  expecting  audience. 
Hutchinson,  in  time,  liroke  silence ;  he  had  consulted  with 
Colonel  Dalrymple,  and  the  Colonel  had  authorized  him  to  say 
that  he  might  order  one  regiment  down  to  the  Castle,  if  that  would 
satisfy  the  people.  With  a  self-recollectiou,  a  self-possession,  a 
self-command,  a  presence  of  mind  that  was  admired  by  every  man 
present,  Samuel  Adams  arose  with  an  air  of  dignity  and  majesty 


8G  or,n  state  iioitsr  i!K-nEnic.\TioN. 

of  which  he  was  sometimes  capMl'le,  slietehed  forth  his  iinii, 
though  even  then  qniverini^'  with  palsy,  and  witli  an  liMiinonious 
voice  and  decisive  tone  said,  •  If  the  I.ientxMiant-Govornor  or 
Colonel  ])alrymple,  or  botii  together,  have  authority  'o  remove 
one  regiment,  they  have  authority  to  remove  two,  and  nothing 
short  of  the  total  evacuation  of  tlie  t(jwn  liy  all  the  regular  troops 
will  satisfy  the  public  mind  or  preserve  the  peace  of  the  province. 
"These  few  words  tiuilled  the  veins  of  every  man  in  the 
audience,  and  produced  the  great  result.  After  a  little  awkward 
hesitation  it  was  agreed  that  the  town  should  be  evacuated  and 
both  regiments  sent  to  the  Castle." 

Hutchinson's  own  account  of  the  affair  agrees 
stibstantially  with  this,  though  throwing  the  respon- 
sibility itpon  Col.  Dalryniple.  On  March  10  and 
11   the  two  regiments  were  removed  to  the  Castle. 


Sui'ely  such  an  event  as  this  luust  render  this  hall 
forever  memorable.  "Whatever  else  had  been  done, 
at  other  times  and  places,  here  was  taken  the  first 
open  step  towai'd  successinl  rebellion.  A  govern- 
meut  which  removes  its  military  force  from  a  fort, 
a  town,  or  a  province,  at  the  demand  of  its  subjects, 
can  hope  to  regain  its  ascendancy  in  tlie  future  only 
by  the  disj^lay  of  an  irresistible  armament  in  the 
same  place.  Hutchinson,  who  well  understood  the 
position,  wrote  to  a  friend,  in  March,  1770:  ''The 
body  of  the  peoj)le  are  all   of  a  mind,  and   there  is 


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OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  87 

no  stemming  the  torrent.  It  is  the  common  lan- 
guage of  Adams  and  the  rest,  that  they  are  not 
to  be  intimidated  by  acts  of  Parliament,  for  they 
will  not  be  executed  here.  .  .  .  We  are  most 
certainly   every   day   confirming    ourselves    in    our 

principles  of  independence;    and tells  me  he 

is  fully  convinced  that  notliing  but  sharp  external 
force  will  bring  Boston  hito  a  state  of  due  subordi- 
nation."    (Life  of  S.  Adams,  i.,  335.) 

The  Legislature  was  convened  in  March,  1770, 
at  Cambridge,  despite  their  protest  that  the  writs 
specified  that  the  meeting  Avas  "  to  be  held  at  the 
Town  House  in  Boston."  Samuel  Adams,  John 
Adams,  John  Hancock,  and  Joseph  Hawley,  were 
the .  leaders  in  the  House,  ably  assisted  by  James 
Bowdoin  in  the  Council. 

In  October  the  trial  of  Capt.  Preston  and  his 
soldiers  was  held  in  this  hall,  John  Adams  and 
Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,  acting  as  their  counsel,  and 
Preston  was  fully  acquitted.  Two  of  the  soldiers 
were   convicted   of  manslaughter. 

"  The  trials  were  far  from  satisfactory  to  the  prose- 
cutors; and,  in  a  short  time,  a  great  part  of  the 
peoi^le  were  induced  to  believe  the  acquittals  unjust 
and  contrary  to  evidence;  and  the  killing  of  the  men 
was  declared  to  be  a  horrid  massacre,  with  the  same 
freedom  as  if  the  jury  had  found  those  concerned  in 
it  guilty   of  murder.     A    few    days    after    the    trial, 


88  OLD    srVTK    HOUSU    KE-DEDICATION. 

while  the  Court  eouthuied  to  sit,  an  inc-eiidiuiy  paper 
was  posted  up,  in  the  night,  upoa  the  door  of  the 
Town  House,  complaining  of  the  Court  for  cheating 
the  injured  people  with  a  show  of  justice,  and  calling 
upon  them  to  rise  and  free  the  world  i'rom  such 
domestiek  tyrants."     (Hutchinson,  iii.,  330.) 

Tlie  removal  of  the  train-band  from  the  Castle 
and  its  delivery  to  the  royal  forces,  was  another 
ground  of  offence  to  the  colonists. 

In  March,  1771,  Hutchinson's  commission  as 
Governor  arrived,  and  he  met  the  Legislature  at 
Cambridge  as  before.  In  the  preceding  year  he  had 
vetoed  the  election  of  eleven  of  his  Council,  as  they 
were  of  the  popular  side.  In  this  year  he  accepted 
them  all,  except  John  Hancock  and  Jerathmeel 
Bowers.  The  reported  disagreement  between  Han- 
cock and  Adams,  and  the  fact  that  the  latter  was 
opposed  in  his  election  in  May,  1772,  by  two  hundred 
and  eighteen  votes  in  seven  hundi'ed  and  twenty- 
three  at  the  Boston  meeting,  probably  influenced  the 
Governor  to  allow  the  Legislature,  in  1772,  to  return 
to  its  old  apartments  in  this  building. 

As  I  confine  myself  to  what  was  done  here,  I  pass 
over  the  various  events  Avhich  tended  to  hasten  the 
final  rujiture.  But  it  was  in  the  adjoining  hall,  after 
ordei'ing  the  galleries  to  be  clcai'ed,  that  Samuel 
Adams  produced  those  confidential  letters  of  Hutch- 
inson to   his  English   friends,   which  con\inced  the 


^^r:^*^ 


J^/^t^^fl^£C^ 


OLD    STATE    HOUSK    RE-DEDICATION.  89 

public    tliat    there    was    no    safety    for  any  of    the 
opponents   of  the  government. 

In  1773  it  became  known  that  the  experiment  was 
to  be  made  of  shipping  tea  to  this  country  and  of 
collecting  the   duty  upon  it. 

On  N^ovember  28,  1773,  the  tea  arrived,  and,  as 
Hutchinson  bitterly  remarks,  "  while  the  Governor 
and  Council  wei'e  sitting  on  the  Monday  in  the  Coun- 
cil Chamber,  and  known  to  be  consulting  upon  means 
for  preserving  the  peace  of  the  town,  several  thou- 
sands, inhabitants  of  Boston  and  other  towns,  were 
assembled  in  a  publick  meeting-house,  at  a  small 
distance,  in  direct  opposition  and  defiance."  We  all 
know  the  result:  that,  after  exhausting  all  peaceable 
means  for  the  return  of  the  "  detested  herb,"  a  body 
of  patriots,  illegally  but  rightly,  took  the  responsi- 
bility of  consigning  three  hundred  and  forty-two 
chests  of  tea  to  the  waves  of  Boston  Harbor.  "This 
was  the  boldest  stroke  which  had  yet  been  struck  in 
America.  .  .  .  Their  leaders  feared  no  consequences. 
.  .  .  They  had  gone  too  far  to  recede.  If  the  colo- 
nies were  subject  to  the  supreme  authority  and  laws 
of  Great  Britain,  their  offences  long  since  had  been 
of  the  highest  nature.  .  .  .  And  it  is  certain  that, 
ever  after  this  time,  an  opinion  was  easily  instilled, 
and  was  constantly  increasing,  that  the  body  of  the 
people  had  also  gone  too  far  to  recede,  and  that  an 
open  and  general   revolt  must  be  the  consequence; 


90  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

and  it  was  not  long  before  actual  preparations  were 
visibly  making  for  it  in  most  jjarts  of  tlie  province." 
(Hutchinson,  iii ,  439.) 

Of  course  this  proceeding  could  not  be  ignoi'ed  by 
Parliament,  and,  in  March,  1774,  the  Boston  Port 
Bill,  closing  the  port  during  the  pleasure  of  the  King, 
was  passed,  with  other  acts  taldng  all  the  power 
from  the  jieople  or  their  representatives,  and  giving 
it  to  the  Crown.  Persons  accused  of  rioting  could 
be  sent  to  England  for  trial,  and  special  orders  were 
given  for  the  arrest  of  Samuel  Adams  and  other 
leaders. 

On  May  17,  1774,  Thomas  Gage,  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  all  the  troops  hi  this  country,  arrived  in 
Boston,  commissioned  as  Governor  of  the  province. 
Landing  at  Long  Wharl",  he  was  escorted  up  State 
street  by  the  Boston  Cadets,  under  the  conunand  of 
Hancock.  In  this  hall  he  was  duly  sworn  into  office, 
and  from  the  balcony  the  usual  proclamation  was  made. 

The  last  session  of  the  Legislature  held  under  the 
royal  government  was  at  Salem,  on  June  7, 1774.  It 
was  dissolved  on  the  17th,  after  it  had  provided  for 
the  appointment  of  James  Bov/doin,  Thomas  Cush- 
ing,  Samuel  Adams,  Jolni  Adams,  and  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  as  delegates  to  the  ( 'ongress  to  be  held  at 
Philadelphia.  Thenceforward  the  old  government 
was  extinct.  In  the  following  year  a  Provincial 
Congress,  elected  by  the  people,  assembled  at  Water- 


J/xibTTi. 


78 


^^^M^  iS^Y  fTtr/^yY^^/ 


€~U^iC 


7 


OLD    STATK    IIOUSK    KE-DEDIf'ATlON.  91 

town,  to  exercise  powers  acknowledged  by  all  the 
citizens  of  the  new  State.  In  Boston,  the  royal  Gov- 
ernor, witli  his  select  board  of  thirty  counsellors, 
appointed  by  himself,  kept  up  for  a  while  the  farce 
of  civic  government.  The  true  authority  was  in  his 
hands  as  commanding  the  troops,  and  his  official 
residence  was  at  the  Province  House,  opposite  the 
head  of  Milk  street. 

Hardly  anything  is  on  record  in  regard  to  the 
Town  House  during  the  siege.  It  is  stated  that  it 
was  used  as  a  barracks ;  certainly,  after  the  evacua- 
tion of  the  town,  no  complaint  was  made  of  any 
injury  done  to  it  by  the  troops.'*  On  the  19th  of 
A])ril,  1775,  the  battle  of  Lexington  was  fought;  on 
the  17th  of  June  following,  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 
On  the  10th  October,  1775,  Gage  was  recalled  to 
England,  and,  during  his  absence.  Gen.  Howe  cora- 

''As  an  evidence  of  the  demoralization  during  the  last  few  days  of 
British  rule,  when  private  houses  were  openly  robbed  by  Crean  and  his 
Tory  associates,  we  find  that  on  March  14,  177C,  Gen.  Howe  issued  the 
following  proclamation  •  — 

"The  commander-in-chief,  finding,  notwithstanding  former  orders  that 
have  been  given  to  forbid  plundering,  houses  hiive  been  forced  open  and 
robbed,  he  is  therefore  under  a  necessity  of  declaring  to  the  troops  that 
the  first  soldier  who  is  caught  plundering  will  be  hanged  on  the  spot. 

"  The  commander-in-chief,  having  been  informed  that  depredations  have 
been  committed  in  the  Town  House,  offers  the  following  rewards  to  any 
person  or  persons  who  shall  convict  any  person  or  persons  of  cutting 
and  defacing  the  King's  and  Queen's  picture,  and  destroying  the  records  and 
other  public  papers,  viz.  :  For  the  King's  picture,  £50 ;  for  the  Queen's 
picture,  £50;  for  other  pictures,  records,  and  public  pnpers,  £20." 


92  OLD    STATK    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATIOX. 

manded  uu  the  sua-board,  and  Gen.  Cai-leton  in 
Canada.  On  the  17th  of  March,  177G,  the  British 
troops  evacuated  the  town  ;  and,  on  tlie  20th,  the 
main  body  of  the  American  army  marched  in. 

On  the  2i)th  of  March,  the  citizens  of  Boston 
held  a  regular  meeting  for  the  election  of  town 
officers,  in  the  Old  Brick  Church,  Faiieiiil  Hall 
having  been  fitted  up  as  a  theatre  by  the  British 
ofiicers. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  1776,  the  Declai-ation  of 
Independence  "was  made  public,  with  great  parade 
and  exultation,  from  the  balcony  on  the  east  end." '" 

"' "  Thursday  last,  pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  Honorable  Council,  was 
proclaimed  from  the  balcony  of  tlie  State  House  in  this  town  the  Declara- 
tion of  the  American  Congress,  absolving  tlie  United  Colonies  from  their 
allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  declaring  them  free  and  independent 
States.  There  were  present  on  the  occasion  in  the  council  clianiber  a 
committee  of  council,  a  number  of  the  Honorable  House  of  Representatives, 
tlie  magistrates,  selectmen,  and  other  gentlemen  of  Boston  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  also  the  commission  officers  of  the  Continental  regiments 
stationed  here,  and  other  officers.  Two  of  tliese  regiments  were  under 
arms  in  King  street,  formed  into  three  lines  on  the  north  side  of  the  street 
and  in  thirteen  divisions,  and  a  detachment  from  the  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment of  tirtillery,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon,  was  on  their  right  wing. 
At  one  o'clock  the  Declaration  was  proclaimed  by  Colonel  Thomas  Crafts, 
which  was  received  with  great  joy,  expressed  by  tliree  huzzas  from  a 
great  concourse  of  people  assembled  on  the  occasion,  .\ftcr  which,  on 
a  signal  given,  thirteen  pieces  of  cannon  were  fired  from  the  fort  on  Fort- 
hill ;  the  forts  at  Dorchester  Neck,  the  Castle,  Nantasket,  and  Point  .\lder- 
ton  likewise  discharged  their  cannon.  Then  the  detachment  of  artillery 
fired  tlieir  cannon  tliirtecn  times,  wliicli  was  followed  by  the  two  regiments 
giving  their  fire  from  the    tbi.-teen    divisions   in    succession.      These  firings 


OLD     STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  93 

The  State  g-overnment,  whicli  consisted  of  the 
Legislature  without  a  Grovernor,  still  remained  at 
Watertown.  The  session  for  1776  begun  May  29, 
and  continued,  by  one  prorogation  and  one  adjourn- 
ment, until  the  llith  of  N^ovember,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Boston.  The  "Boston  Gazette,"  of 
November  4,  announces  its  own  removal  from 
Watertown  to  the  iJrinting-ofRce  opposite  the  Court 
House,  in  Queen  street,  and  in  its  next  issue, 
Monday,  November  11,  states,  "Saturday  last,  the 
General  Assembly  of  this  State  adjournal  from 
Watertown,  to  meet  at  the  State  House  in  this 
Town,  Tomorrow,  at  Ten  o'clock." 

On    November    16,    1776,    seventeen    Councillors 


corresponded  to  the  number  of  the  American  States  united.  The  ceremony 
was  closed  witli  a  proper  collation  to  the  gentlemen  in  the  council  chamber; 
during  which  the  following  toasts  were  given  by  the  president  of  tlie  council, 
and  heartily  pledged  by  the  company,  viz.  :  — 

"  'Prosperity  and  perpetuity  to  the  United  States  of  America.' 
'"The  American  Congress.' 

"  'General  Washington,  and  success  to  the  arms  of  tlie  United  States.' 
"  'The  downfall  of  tyrants  and  tyranny.' 
"  '  The  universal  prevalence  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.' 
"  '  The  friends  of  the  United  States  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe.' 
"  The  bells  in  town  were  rung  on  the  occasion ;  and  undisserabled  festivity 
cheered  and  brightened  every  face. 

"  On  the  same  evening,  the  King's  Arms,  .and  every  sign  with  any  resem- 
blance of  it,  whether  Lion  and  Crown,  Pestle  and  Mortar  and  Crown, 
Heart  iind  Crown,  etc.,  together  with  every  sign  that  belonged  to  a  Tory, 
were  taken  down,  and  the  hitter  made  a  general  conflagraiion  of  in  King 
street."  —  New  England  Chronicle  for  July  25,  177 fi. 


94  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATIOX. 

signed  a  pi-oclamatioii,  "  given  at  the  Council  Cham- 
ber in  Boston,"  for  a  Thanksgiving  to  be  observed 
on  December  12  following. 

The  various  State  officials  also  returned  to  this 
building,  whicli  continued  in  use  as  the  State 
House,  for  nearly  twenty  years.  In  1780  the  State 
Constitution  was  adopted,  and  John  Hancock,  the 
first  Govei'nor  of  the  State,  was  installed  here,  to 
the  great  delight  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  James 
Bowdoin,  Samuel  Adams,  and  Increase  Sumner, 
succeeded  Hancock,  and  presided  in  this  chamber. 

In  1782  a  great  reception  was  given  in  the 
Council  Chamber  to  the  French  fleet  and  army, 
then  returning  to  Europe. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1783,  the  Proclamatiou  of 
Peace  was  received  here,  "  and  the  sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Suftblk,  Joseph  Henderson,  Esq.,  an- 
nounced the  same  from  tlie  balcony  of  the  State 
House,  at  one  o'clock,  befoi'e  which  a  large  con- 
course of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  the 
town  were  assembled,  who  demonstrated  by  thi'ee 
loud  huzzas,  their  jo}'  ujjon  this  occasion.  After 
which,  thirteen  cannon,  from  the  fortresses  at  the 
Castle,  and  the  same  number  at  Fort  Hill,  were 
fired." 

In  1785  the  view  of  the  Old  State  House  here 
annexed  was  used  on  the  title-page  of  the  "  Boston 
MagaziiTe."     It  is  interesting  as  showing  that   the 


JAMES     BOWDOIN. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  96 

Province  Arms,  or  their  supporters,  liad  disap- 
peared from  the  eastern  front,  but  that  the  scrolls 
had  not  been  substituted;  and  that  the  steps  were 
then  in  place.  It  also  shows  that  at  that  date 
this  building  was  regarded  as  a  peculiarly  Bos- 
tonian  structure,  and  therefore  figured  on  the  front 
page  of  a  Boston  book. 

In  October,  1789,  Washington  visited  Boston, 
and  reviewed  the  procession  in  his  honor  from  a 
balcony  erected  from  the  centre  window  of  the 
Representatives'   Hall. 

Of  course  Washington  had  seen  the  State  House 
in  1776,  when  he  entered  the  town  with  his  victo- 
rious ti'oops ;  but,  on  this  occasion,  the  building  was 
the  centre  of  the  pageant  in  his  honor.  We  copy 
from  the  "Massachusetts  Magazine"  for  Januarj^, 
1790,  a  view  therein  engraved,  and  the  following 
"  Description  of  the  Triumphal  Arch  and  Colonnade, 
erected  at  Boston,  in  honour  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  October  24,  1789.  — The  Triumphal 
Arch  (designed  by  Mr.  C.  Bulfinch)  was  18  feet 
high,  composed  of  a  centre  arch  14  feet  wide,  and 
one  on  each  side,  of  7  feet,  with  an  lonick  pilaster  and 
proper  imposts  between  them.  The  frieze  exhibited 
IIJ  stars  on  a  blue  ground,  and  a  handsome  white, 
defitulo  cornice  was  carried  to  the  height  of  the 
Ijlatform;  above  was  painted  a  balustrade  of  intci- 
laced  work,  m  the  centre  of  which  was  an  oval  tablet, 


96  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 

witli  the  follDwiug  inscriptions :  on  one  side,  '  To 
the  Man  loho  unites  all  Hearts,''  and  on  the  other, 
'  To  Colmnhia''s  favourite  Son.'  At  the  end 
adjoining  the  State  Honse  was  a  panel  decorated 
with  a  Trophij,  composed  of  the  arms  of  the  United 
States,  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and 
of  our  French  Allies,  crowned  with  a  laurel  wreath; 
over  these  an  inscription,  '^Boston  relieved,  March 
IT,  1776,'  —  as  a  proof  of  a  grateful  remembrance 
of  the  service  rendered  the  town  by  the  illustrious 
President  in  his  military  character.  Over  the  centre 
arch,  a  rich  canopy,  of  20  feet  in  height,  was  erected, 
with  the  American  Eagle  perched  above. 

"  The  Colonnade  (designed  hy  Hon.  Mr.  Dawes) 
was  erected  at  the  west  end  of  the  State  House, 
adjacent  to  the  Ai-ch.  It  was  composed  of  six  large 
columns,  15  feet  high,  and  a  balustrade  hung  in 
front  with  Persian  carpets,  on  which  were  wrought 
13  roses.  The  circle  of  the  Colonnade  measured 
44  feet,  and  projected  boldly  into  the  main  street,  so 
as  to  exhibit  in  a  strong  light  '  The  man  of  the 
2)eople.''  The  central  west  window  of  the  State 
House  was  the  door  through  which  the  President 
passed  to  the  balustrade,  descending  from  a  plat- 
form four  easy  steps,  to  the  floor  of  the  gallery, 
which  was  furnished  with  arm-cliaii's,  and  spread 
with  rich  carpets.  On  this  platform  was  a  pedestal 
covered  with  green,  supporting  the  figure  of  Plenttj, 


Proceiiiiion. 


BosTOjj,    Oct.    19;    1789. 

AS  this  town  is  shortly  to  be  honoured  with  a  visit  from  the  PRESIDENT  of  the  United  States: 
In  order  that  we  may  pay  cur  respects  to  him,  in  a  manner  whereby  every  inhabitant  may  see  so 
illustrious  and  amiable  a  character,  and  to  prevent  the  disorder  and  danger'which  must  ensue  from 
a  great  assembly  of  people  without  order,  a  Committee  appointed  by  a  respectable  number  of  in- 
habitants, met  for  the  purpose,  recommend  to  their  Fellow-Citizens  to  arrange  themselves  in  the  following  or- 
der, in  a  h  b 


C  E 


It  is  also  recommended,  that  the  person  who  shall  be  chosen  as  head  of  each  order  of  Artizans,  Trades- 
men, Manufacturers,  &.c.  shall  be  known  by  displaying  a  WHITE  FLAG,  with  some  device  thereon  expres- 
sive of  their  several  callings,  and  to  be  numbered  as  in  the  arrangement  that  follows,  which  is  alphabetically  dis- 
posed, in  order  to  give  general  satisfaction.— The  Artizans,  &c.  to  display  such  insignia  of  their  craft,  as  they 
can  conveniently  carry  in  their  hands.  That  uniformitv  mav  not  be  wanting,  it  is  desired  that  the  several 
Flag-staffs  be  SEVEN  feet  long,  and  the  Flags  a  tap.d  souarb. 

OliDER  OF  PROCESSION 


MUBICK. 
The  Selectmen, 
Overseers  of  Ihe  Pooj. 
Town  Treasurer, 
Town  Clerk, 
Magistrates, 

Consuls  of  France  and  Holland, 

The  OtBcers  of  his  MosLChrislian  Majesty's  Squadron, 
The  Rev.  Clergy, 
Physicians, 
Lawyers, 

Merchants  and  Traders, 
Marine  .Society, 
Masters  of  Vessels, 
Revenue  Officers, 

Su>angers,  who  may  wish  to  ntlend. 

Bakers,  ....  No.   I. 

Blacksmiths,  &c.         -  .  .  No.  2. 

Block-makers,         ....  I^o.  3. 

Boat-builders,  .  -  ,  ^o.  4. 

Cabinet  and  Chair-makers,         -  -  No.  b, 

Card-maktrs,  ....  No.  G. 

Carvers,  ....  No.  T. 

Chaise  anj  Coach-makers,  -  ■  No.  8. 

Clock  and  VValch-makers,         -  -  No.  9. 

Coopers.  ....  No. 

Coppersmiths,  Braziers  and  Founders,         -  No. 

Cordwainers,  &c.  ...  -     No. 

Distillers,  -  -  .  .  No. 

Duck  Manufacturers,  .  .  No. 

Engravers.  .  .  .  No. 

Glaziers  and  Plumbers,  -  -  No 


10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 

It;. 


GoliUmiths  and  Jewellers, 
Hair-Dressers, 
Hatters  and  Furriers, 
House  Carpcntors, 

Leather  Djessers,  ajid  Leather  Breeches  > 
.Maker.',  .  .  .  i 

Limners. and  Por'.rail  Painters. 
Masons,^  .  -  .  , 

IM.Tst-makei's, 

Mathematical  Instrument-maKcrs, 
Millers,  .... 

Painters,         -  -  -  . 

Paper  Staincrs, 
Pewterers, 

Printers,  Book.Mnders  and  Stationers, 
RigHeis,  .  .  . 

Ropc-m«ker--, 

Saddlers.  -  -  .  . 

Sail-makers,  -  -  , 

Shipwrights,  to  include  Caulkers,  Ship-joiners. 

Hcad-Iiiiilileri  i»nd  Sawyers, 
bugar-boilcrs, 
Tallow-Chandlers,  &c. 
Tanners. 
Taylors,. 

Tin.plate  Workers, 
Tobacconists,  ... 


1 


No. 

17. 

No. 

18. 

No. 

19. 

No. 

20. 

No. 

21. 

No. 

22. 

No. 

23. 

No. 

24. 

No. 

25. 

No. 

26. 

No. 

27. 

No. 

2B, 

No. 

29. 

No. 

30. 

No. 

31. 

No. 

32. 

No, 

S3. 

No. 

34, 

No. 

35. 

No. 

36. 

No. 

37. 

No. 

38. 

No. 

39. 

No. 

40. 

No. 

41. 

No. 

42. 

No. 

43, 

No. 

44. 

No. 

45. 

No 

46. 

Truckmen,  .... 

Turneis,,         .... 
Upholsterers, 

"Wharfingers,  -  -  .  - 

Wheelwrights, 
Seamen, 

».  B.— In  the  above  arrangement,  some  trades  are  omitted— from  the  idea,  that  thev  would  incorpor«te  themselves  with  the  branche* 
mentioned,  to  which  tbey  arc  generally  attached.  For  instance— it  is  supposed,  that  under  the  head  of  Blacksmilh),  the  Armourers,  Cutlers 
Whitesmiths  and  otber  workers  m  iron,  would  be  included  ;  and  the  same  with  respect  to  other  trades. 

Eicu  dijision  of  the  atove  arrangement  is  requested  to  meet  on  such  parade  as  it  may  agree  on,  and  march  into  the  Mall— No.  I  of  the 
Artizans,  Reforming  at  the  South-end  thereof.  The  Marshalls  will  then  direct  in  what  manner  Ihe  Procession  will  move  to  meet  the 
President  on  his  arrival  i»  town.  When  the  frbnt  of  the  Procession  arrives  at  the  c.\treinity  of  the  town,  it  will  halt,  and  the  whole  will 
then  be  directed  to  open  the  column— one  half  of  each  rank  moving  to  the  right,  and  the  other  half  to  the  left— and  then  face  inwards,  so  at 
to  form  an  avenue  through  which  the  President  is  to  pass,  to  the  galeries  to  bo  erected  at  the  State-House. 

Iiis  requested  ihat  the  several  School-masters  conduct  their  Scholars  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  State-House,  and  form  them  in  such 
order  as  the  Marshalli  shall  direct. 
Till  -Marine  Society  is  desired  to  appoint  some  person  to  arrange  and  accompany  the  seamen . 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION.  97 

with  her  Cornucopice  and  other  emblems.  As  soon 
as  the  President  entered  this  Colonnade  he  was 
saluted  by  three  huzzas  from  the  citizens,  and  by  an 
Ode  (see  our  Magazine  for  October,  1789,  page 
659),  sung  by  a  select  choir  of  singers,  seated  under 
the  canopy  erected  over  the  arch.  The  whole 
formed  an  agreeable  spectacle,  and  heightened  the 
pleasure  of  the  day." 

"VVe  also  present  a  fac-simile  of  the  Order  of  Exer- 
cises on  that  interesting  occasion,  from  a  copy 
preserved   in   the   Boston    Public   Library. 

Finally,  the  project  of  a  new  State  House  was 
agitated,  and  the  corner-stone  thereof  was  laid 
July  4,  1795,  with  Masonic  honors.  It  was  first 
occupied  by  the  Legislature  on  the  11th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1798,  when  that  august  body  marched  in 
procession  from  the*  Old  State  House  to  the  New. 

The  folloAving  description,  written  by  Thomas 
Pemberton,  a  local  antiquary,  in  1794,  was  printed 
in  the  collection  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  So- 
ciety, 1st  series,  vol.  iii.,  p.  250:  — 

The  State  House,  called  the  Town  House.  The  building  first 
erected  for  governmental  business  was  placed  at  the  head  of  King- 
street,  and  was  consumed  by  fire  in  1711.  In  the  year  following 
a  new  brick  buildiug  was  raised  on  the  same  spot  and  met  with  a 
lilce  fate  the  9th  of  December,  1747;  when  some  of  the  records 
and  other  public  papers  were  destroyed.  It  was  repaired  in  the 
year  following,  in  its  present  form,  and  is  in  length  110  feet,  in 


98  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

breadth  38  feet,  and  three  stories  high.  On  the  centre  of  the 
roof  is  a  tower,  consisting  of  three  stories,  finished  according  to 
the  Tuscan,  Doi-ic  and  Ionic  orders.  From  the  upper  story  is  an 
extensive  prospect  of  the  liarbor,  into  the  bay  and  of  the  country 
adjacent. 

The  lower  floor  of  the  building  serves  for  a  covered  wallc  for 
any  of  the  inhabitants.  On  this  floor  are  kept  the  offices  of  the 
clerlis  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  and  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 
The  chambers  over  it  are  occupied  bj-  the  General  Court,  the 
senate  in  one  and  the  representative  body  in  the  opposite  cham- 
ber. 

The  third  story  is  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  Committees  of 
the  General  Court.  On  the  lower  floor  are  ten  pillars  of  the  Doric 
order,  which  support  the  chambers  occupied  by  the  Legislature. 
This  building  is  in  Cornhill,  one  mile  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  yards  from  Washington  street,  the  late  fortification  entrance 
from  the  neck  into  the  town.  Its  latitude  is  42  deg.  21  inin. 
north  ;  the  longitude  is  71  deg.  3  miu.  30  sec.  west  from  Green- 
wich, in  'England. 

"We  have  already  printed  (ante,  p.  63)  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  building,  published  in  August,  1791,  in 
the  "  Massachusetts  Magazine."  In  the  same  magazine 
for  July,  1793,  there  was  ptiblished  a  larger  engrav- 
ing, here  reproduced;  but  no  exjilanation  was  given 
except  a  reference  to  the  earlier  issue. 

Another  view  of  the  Old  State  House  at  this  time 
has  been  jjrescrvcd  to  tis,  being  engraved  upon  the 
policies  of  the  Massachusetts  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany. This  association,  the  first  so  established  in 
the  State,  was  incorporated  in  1795,  and  remodelled 


^- 


OLD    STATE    IIOUSK    HE-DEDICATION.  99 

as  the  Massachusetts  Fire  and  Marine  Company  in 
1799. 

The  engraving  was  retouched,  probably  at  the  date 
of  the  assumption  of  the  new  title,  and  the  sidewalk 
at  the  right  was  sketched  in.  The  other  details  were 
somewhat  modified,  so  that  the  second  state  of  the 
plate  has  been  preferred  for  reproduction  herewith. 

A  copy  of  the  first  impression  is  in  the  collection 
of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  and  one  of 
the  second  issue  is  placed  on  the  walls  of  the  Old 
State  House,  both  given  by  Henry  C.  Short,  Esq., 
of  Boston. 


After  the  Legislature  had  departed,  the  Town 
House  fell  upon  evil  days.  The  town-meetings 
were  held  in  the  enlarged  Faneuil  Hall,  with  which 
we  are  familiar.  The  courts  were  transferred  to 
the  Court  House  on  Court  street,  and  the  old  build- 
ing Avas  given  up  to  various  tenants.  The  records 
of  the  town  and  of  the  selectmen  do  not  enable  us  to 
give  full  details  of  the  occupants.  In  fact,  until  1803 
the  title  to  the  estate  was  in  doubt.  The  State 
claimed  the  right  to  sell  the  property,  and  to  take 
one-half  the  proceeds.  To  this  the  town  stoutly  de- 
murred, claiming  the  fee  of  the  land,  and  a  moral 
right,  at  least,  to  specify  the  uses  to  which  the  build- 
ing should  be  put.     At  the  Town  Meeting  of  Mai'ch 


100  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-BEDICATION. 

12,  1798,  a  committee,  consisting  of  William  Eustis, 
Josiah  Waters,  and  William  Smith,  was  appointed 
"to  confer  mth  a  Committee  of  the  General  Court 
respecting  the  disposal  of  the  Old  State  House." 
{Records,  p.  62.)  At  the  meeting  of  Kov.  5, 
1798,  the  subject  was  again  referred  to  William 
Eustis,  Samuel  Brown,  Judge  Minot,  William  Smith, 
and  Thomas  Edwards,  to  report  at  the  adjourn- 
ment.    {Records,  p.  94.) 

Their  report  was  as  follows    {Records,  p.  99)  ;  — 

Town  Meeting  Nov.  21,  1798. 

"  Tbe  Committee  appointed  to  consider  certain  resolves  of  the 
Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  relative  to  tiie  disposition  and 
sale  of  the  Old  Court  House  [in  the  margin  "  Old  State  House  "] 
so  called,  have  attended  to  the  subject,  and  take  leave  to  report 
as  follows. 

"  First.  The  Committee  are  satisfied  that  the  fee  of  the  Land  on 
which  the  House  stands,  is  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  that  they 
have  lilvcwise  erected  and  repaired  from  time  to  time  nearly  one- 
half  of  the  House  ;  from  wlience  it  results  that  the  Town  ought  not 
to  consent  to  the  proposal  made  by  the  Legislature  to  appoint 
agents  to  sell  the  said  House  niul  Laud  thereto  Ix'louging,  and  to 
place  one  half  of  the  proceeds  in  the  Treasury  of  tiie  Common- 
wealth. 

"Secondly — The  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  selHng 
the  premises  to  any  individual  I'erson  or  company  will  be  attended 
with  consequences  very  injurious  to  the  Town.  The  purposes  for 
which  it  might  and  probably  would  be  occupied  would  tend  greatly 
to  incumber  the  most  frequented  street  in  the  Town,  which  is  in  its 
present  state  not  of  suificient  width  for   public   accommodation  ; 


c 


\ 


if(_r    ^,A,,ftJf«Tr 


iS  /  LJB^  ^yki„i,iii,i,iV*i 


pp^p 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  101 

the  danger  from  fire  would  be  very  much  increased  whetlier  tlic 
house  is  approiiriated  for  Shops,  Counting-Houses,  or  in  short 
from  any  use  to  which  the  interest  of  individuals  might  appro- 
priate it.  Beside  the  increase  of  real  obstructions  to  the  Streets 
on  both  sides  of  the  House,  the  Committee  are  apprehensive  that 
the  Health  of  the  inliabitants  may  be  exposed  by  the  nuisances 
which  a  complete  occupation  of  the  House  would  necessarily 
imply. 

"  The  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  Town  ought  to  be 
the  owners  of  the  House  and  Land  in  order  that  it  may  be  ap- 
propriated to  no  uses  of  which  they  shall  disapprove. 

"  As  the  Hon'''"  Legislature  appear  from  their  resolves  to 
be  impi-essed  with  an  idea  that  one  half  of  the  premises  is  the 
property  of  tiie  Commonwealth,  and  at  the  same  time  have  con- 
sented to  refer  the  claim  together  with  that  of  the  Town  and  of 
the  Counties  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  for  a  final  decision, 

"  The  Committee  conceive  that  the  Town  should  agree  to  the 
reference  proposed  so  far  as  that  the  Judges  shall  finally  deter- 
mine what  part  of  the  premises  is  the  property  of  the  Town. 

"  And  with  respect  to  the  other  proposal  of  selling  whether  by 
public  or  private  sale,  that  the  Town  should  not  agree  to  the 
same,  but  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  instructed  to 
represent  to  the  Legislature  the  inconveniences  which  would  result 
from  a  sale  to  individuals,  together  with  the  desire  of  the  Town 
that  they  will  purchase  from  the  State  such  their  proportion  of 
the  same  as  the  Judges  shall  award,  at  an  appraisement  to  be 
made  by  three  impartial  itaen,  to  be  chosen  one  by  the  Legislature, 
one  by  the  Representatives  of  the  Town,  the  third  by  the  two  first 
or  by  lot  between  them  if  they  cannot  agree. 

"William  Eustis,  pr  Order." 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 


102  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

After  some  delay,  at  the  meeting  of  March  1 ,  1802, 
the  senators  of  the  district  and  the  representatives  of 
the  town  AA^ere  given  full  powers  to  treat  with  the 
General  Court  in  regard  to  the;  Old  ToAvn  House 
and  land.     (^Records,  p.  141.) 

Again,  March  1,  1802,  the  Selectmen  Avere  made 
a  committee  to  choose  referees  for  a  final  adjustment 
of  the  claim  of  the  State  and  the  Town  to  the  Old 
ToAvn  House.     (^Records,  p.  193.) 

Finally,  Feb.  15,  1803,  a  resoh^e  Avas  passed 
(Resolves,  c.  95,  of  1803),  authorizing  three  com- 
missioners to  sell  the  Commonwealth's  interest  to 
the  town  for  the  sum  of  f  G,000.  A  like  release  Avas 
obtained  from  the  counties  of  Suffolk  and  J^orfolk, 
for  the  sums  of  $1,923.43  and  |1,176.58  respectively.^" 

'"'  The  following  deed,  the  original  of  which  now  hangs  on  these  walls,  is 
recorded  in  the  Suffolk  Registry,  \'ol.  205,  fol.  207  :  — 

Know  all  Men  by  these  presents :  That  we,  the  undersigned,  being  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  by  the  General  Court  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts, by  their  resolve  of  the  fifteenth  of  February,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  three,  "  and  authorized  with  full  power  to  make  sale  of  all  the 
Commonwealth's  Estate,  right,  title  and  Interest,  in  and  to  the  Old  State 
House,  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  or  such  person  or  persons,  and  on  such 
terms,  as  said  Committee  shall  judge  will  be  most  for  the  Interest  and  honor 
of  the  Commonwealth  and  to  execute  good  and  sufficient  Deed  or  Deeds  of 
release  thereof  —  and  to  pay  the  proceeds  or  deliver  the  securities  which 
they  may  receive  therefor,  into  the  Treasury  of  this  Commonwealth." 

For  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  six  thousand  Dollars  for  the  use  of 
the  Commonwealth  aforesaid,  paid  by  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton, in  the  County  of  Suffolk  —  the  receipt  whereof  we  do  hereby  acknowl- 
edge. Do  by  tliese  presents,  sell,  release  and  forever  quit  claim  unto  the  said 
Inhabitants  of  the   Town  of  Boston,  all  the  said  Commonwealth's   Estate, 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  103 

The  town  then  voted,  May  23,  1803  (Hecords,  p. 
241),    "on    the    article   in   the   warrant,   viz.   what 

right,  title  and  Interest  in  and  to  the  building  called  the  Old  State  House, 
situate  at  tlio  head  of  State  street,  in  Boston  aforesaid. 

To  liave  and  to  hold,  the  above  released  jireraises,  to  the  eaid  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  and  tlieir  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  wliereof,  We  have  liercunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  in  Boston, 

the  twenty-eightli  day  of  April,  in  tlie  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 

hundred  and  three. 

Enoch  Titcomb  &  a  Seal. 

Aakos  Hill  &  a  Se.al. 

NiCHo's  TiLLiNGHAST  &  0,  Seal. 
Signed,  sealed  and  deliver'd  in  presence  of 
Sam.  Cazneau. 
Edw'd  McLane. 
Jacob  Kuhn. 

Suffolk,  ss.     Boston,  April  29th,  1803. 

Then  the   above    named  Enoch    Titcomb,    Aaron    Hill    and   Nicholas 

Tillinghast,  Esquires,  personally  appeared,  and  in  their  capacity  as  aforesaid 

acknowledged  the  foregoing  instrument  by  them  subscribed,  to  be  tlieir  free 

act  and  deed. 

Before  me 

John  Avebv  Jus:  Peace. 

A  True  Copy. 

Attest:  John  Avery  Secretary. 

In  lib.  205,  fol.  215,  is  the  deed,  dated  May  21,  1803,  by  which  Seth  Bul- 
Jard,  Thomas  Williams,  Jr.,  and  Mosas  Everett,  commissioners  appointed  by 
the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  county  of  Norfolk,  sold  to  the  town  of 
Boston  all  the  rights  of  th.at  county  in  the  Old  State  House,  for  $1,176.58. 
This  county  was  in  part  formed  from  the  old  county  of  Suffolk,  which 
had  a  quarter  interest  in  tlie   l)uihling. 

In  lib.  20G,  fol.  23G,  is  a  similar  deed,  dated  July  2Ist,  1803,  from  Samuel 
Gardner,  Ebenezer  Seaver,  and  .Tosiah  Batclieldor,  similar  commissioners 
for  the  county  of  Suffolk,  to  sell  that  county's  riglit  in  said  building  to  the 
town  of  Boston.     The  wliolc  title  is  tlius  clearly  vested  in  our  city. 


104  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  disposal  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Old  State  House?  .  .  .  that  the  Com- 
mittee chosen  in  the  several  "Wards  in  April  last  to 
assist  the  Assessors,  be  appointed  a  Committee  to 
consider  this  article  in  the  warrant,  and  to  report 
thereon  at  the  Adjournment." 

On  Monday,  June  13,  1803,  the  adjourned  meeting 
was  held  and  the  following  report  made:  "After 
some  debate  it  was  moved  that  the  sense  of  the 
Town  be  taken  as  to  the  expediency  of  leasing  the 
same,  and  the  question  being  put,  it  was  passed  in 
favour  of  its  being  leased.  The  report  was  taken 
up,  amended,  and  accepted  by  the  to«m,  and  is  as 
follows  ^^  :  — 

That  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board  of  Assistant  Assessors,  the 
Committee  for  tlie  puri)ose,  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the 
Town  to  lease  the  Old  State  House  for  a  term  of  time  not  less 
than  ten  nor  to  exceed  twenty  years,  and  the  rent  to  be  paid 
quarterly  or  annually,  and  that  it  be  a  condition  of  the  Lease  that 
the  house  be  put  into  good  repair  and  Kept  so  during  the  term  for 

"'  The  records  of  the  Assessors  is  as  follows,  and  shows  tliat  the  town 
essentially  amended  the  report  before  acceptance,  in  the  interest  of  the  pro- 
tection of  the  building  :  — 

1803.  At  a  meeting  of  the  assistant  assessors  held  .at  the  Selectmens 
Room  liy  reirular  notification  to  take  into  consideration  ami  act  upon  the 
vote  of  the  Town,  desiring  this  Board  to  make  a  Report  to  them  of  the  best 
mode  in  their  opinion  for  the  disposal  of  the  Old  Slate  House  in  Boston, 

Tristram  Barnard,  Chairman. 

A  long  conversation  took  place  on  the  subject  for  which  the  meeting  was 
called. 


OLD    STATK    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  105 

which  it  may  be  leased,  by,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  Lessee, 
and  shall  be  occnpiod  for  pnlilio  or  private  offloes  and  snch  other 

Voted,  To  adjourn  this  meeting  to  Thursday  next  at  4  P.M.  then  to  meet 
in  this  room  and  tliat  the  Secretary  notify  tlie  members  of  tlie  Board  thereof. 

Adjourned,   Attest  W.  Walter,   Sec. 

At  a  meeting  of  tlie  Board  of  assistant  assessors  held  by  adjournment  on 
Thursday  Afternoon  the  at  the  Selectmons  Room,  when 

having  heard  the  opinions  of  the  several  Members  on  the  subject  of  the  Old 
State  House,  tlie  foUowing  Report  was  drawn  up  and  adopted  by  a  very 
large  majority  of  the  Board  there  being  present 

Messrs.  Thistuam  Barnard,  William  Walter, 

Asa  Hammond,   Jno    Brazier,  Jno  Wait, 
Jacob  Rhoades,  Joshua  Hall,  Jon''^  Loring, 
Mitchell  Lincoln,  Benj  Smith,  Jacob  Holland, 
JosiAii  Knapp,  Jno  Winslow,  Nathan  Webb, 
Francis  Wkkiht,  and  Josiah  Wheeler. 

The  Board  of  Assistant  Assessors  whom  the  Town  at  their  last  Meeting 
Voted  should  take  into  consideration  &  report  their  opinion  of  the  best  mode 
for  the  future  disposal  and  management  of  the  Old  State  House,  having 
attended  that  Business  and  very  fully  considered  tlie  subject,  beg  leave  to 
Report : 

That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Board  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the  Town 
to  Lease  the  Old  State  House,  for  a  term  of  time  not  less  than  Twenty,  nor 
to  exceed  Fifty  years:  the  time  to  be  at  the  option  of  the  Lessee,  and  the 
rent  to  be  paid  Quarterly ;  and  that  it  be  a  condition  of  the  Lease  that  the 
House  be  put  into  good  Repair,  and  kept  so  during  the  term  for  which  it 
may  be  leased,  by  and  at  the  e.xpencc  of  the  Lessee  and  shall  be  occupied 
for  public  or  private  offices  &  suc^li  other  purposes  only  as  the  Selectmen 
for  the  time  being  shall  approve  of  and  that  no  alteration  be  made  in  the 
external  form  of  the  Building  without  their  approbation.  And  that  it 
would  be  best  to  disjiose  of  the  Lease  at  Auction. 

Voted.     That  the  aliove  report  be  signed  by  the  Chairman  &,  presented  to 

the  Selectmen. 

Voted,  That  the  Meeting  be  dissolved. 

Attest,     W.  Walter,  Sec. 


106  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    nE-DEDICATION. 

purposes  only,  as  the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being  simll  iipprove 
of;  iind  that  no  alteration  hi>  made  in  the  external  form  of  the 
building  without  their  approbation  ;  tiie  Lease  containing  a  clause 
providing  that  if  tlie  Rent  shall  not  be  punctually  paid,  according 
to  the  terms  of  the  lease,  or  if  the  Lessee  or  Lessees,  their  heirs  or 
assigns,  shall  not  occupj-  the  estate  according  to  the  approbation 
or  orders  of  the  Selectmen  as  before  expressed ;  or  shall  suffer  it 
to  go  to  waste  for  want  of  rejiairs,  that  then  the  Selectmen  or  the 
Town  shall  have  a  right  to  re-enter,  and  b}-  the  re-entry  to  render 
the  Lease  void  after  such  re-entr^- ;  providing  however  that  the 
rights  of  re-entry  be  no  bar  to  an  action  on  the  Lease  against 
the  Lessee  or  Lessees,  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators  or 
assigns,  if  the  Town  consider  such  mode  to  be  most  eligible : 
and  that  it  would  be  best  to  dispose  of  the  lease  at  public  auction. 

Tristram  Barnard,  Chairman. 
William  Walter,  Secretary. 

The  selectmen  were  instructed,  March  13,  1809,  to 
carry  into  complete  elFect  the  condition  of  the  lease. 

It  would  seem  that  in  1809  a  Dr.  Rand  was  one 
tenant;  in  1810  a  Mr.  Bui'ley,  and  also  the  Colum- 
bian Insurance  Co.  In  1811  the  office  lately  occu- 
jjied  by  Mr.  Park  was  divided  into  smaller  rooms. 
In  1812  the  cellars  were  let  for  three  years,  for  fGOO, 
to  B.  Foster,  Josiah  Siders,  and  Edward  Flood,  or 
Floyd.  April  29,  1812,  the  County  Treasiu-er  was 
assigned  a  i-oom  adjoining  westerly  that  of  the  Town 
Treasurer.  July  8,  1812,  the  room  lately  hired  by 
Hem-y  Messenger,  and  tlien  by  Samuel  D.  I'arker, 
was  valued  at  $200  rent.  In  1813  Mr.  Ilai-rington's 
rent  was  reduced  to  $120,  and  applications  for  a  re- 


dti'  Statu  House  in   Isl'1.      {  Krom   llak-s'  Siirvoy.) 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  107 

duction  were  made  by  the  Commercial  Insurance 
Co.,  Mr.  Floyd,  and  Mr.  Siders.  In  the  spring  of 
181G  Mr.  H.  K.  Rogers  applied  in  behalf  of  the  gen- 
tlemen associated  at  Merchants'  Hall,  and  obtained 
leave  to  use  the  lanthorn  of  the  Old  State  House  as 
an  observatory  for  ships.  The  rents  then  fixed  were 
for  Mr.  Barry,  |800;  Mr.  Eea,  $800;  Gilbert  and 
Dean,  $200;  Beal  arid  Hobart,  $150.  (Mr.  William 
Barry  kej^t  a  hat-store  there  in  1826.)  Mr.  Messen- 
ger declined  to  pay  a  rent  of  $300;  and  the  office 
lately  occupied  by  Mr.  Selfridge  Avas  let  to  Mi'. 
Parker,   for   $150. 

On  the  20th  March,  1816,  the  building  narrowly 
escaped  destruction  by  fire,  as  the  following  extract 
from  the  newspaper  shows.  The  "  Columbian  Cen- 
tinel "  for  Saturday,  March  22d,  reports  a  fire  in 
Fish  street,  at  three  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning 
previous,  and    adds :  — 

In  the  night  of  the  above  Are  the  Old  State  House  narrowly 
escaped  destruction,  from  fire  communicating  through  the  fodnda- 
tion  of  a  stove  to  the  floor  and  joists.  Fortunately  some 
persons  who  had  been  roused  early  by  the  preceding  alarm,  en- 
tered the  house  in  season  to  extinguish  the  fire,  and  probably 
saved  the  books  and  documents  in  the  County  and  town  Treasury 
offices  from  being  consumed. 

In  January,  1817,  Mr.  Greenwood  applied  for  the 
upper  part,  and  was  informed  that  the  lowest  rent 
would   be   $1,200.     Probably   this   was   Mr.   E.   A. 


108  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

Greenwood,  who  opened  his  museum,  July  4,  1818, 
in  Court  street. 

We  copy  the  following  descrij)tion   from    Shaw's 
History  of  Boston,  printed  in  1817:  — 

Old  State  House. — The  building  first  erected  for  govern- 
mental business  was  placed  at  the  head  of  King-street,  and  was 
consumed  bj'  fire  in  1711.  In  the  year  following  a  new  brick 
building  was  raised  on  the  same  spot,  and  met  a  like  fate  on  the 
9th  of  December,  1747,  when  some  of  the  records  and  other 
public  papers  were  destroyed.  It  was  repaired  in  the  year  follow- 
ing, in  its  present  form,  and  is  in  length  one  hundred  and  ten 
feet,  in  breadth  thirty-eight  feet,  and  three  stories  high.  On  the 
centre  of  the  roof  is  a  tower,  consisting  of  throe  stories,  finished 
according  to  the  Tuscan,  Dorick  and  loniclv  orders.  From  the 
upper  story  is  an  extensive  prospect  of  the  harbor,  into  the  bay, 
and  of  the  country  adjacent.  The  lower  floor  of  the  building 
served  for  a  covered  walk  for  any  of  the  inhabitants.  On  this 
floor  were  kept  the  offices  of  the  clerks  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  and  Court  of  Common  Pleiis  The  chambers  over  it  were 
occupied  by  the  General  Court,  the  senate  in  one  and  the  rep- 
resentative body  in  the  opposite  chamber.  The  third  story  was 
appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  committees  of  the  General  Court. 
On  tlie  lower  floor  were  ten  pillars  of  tlie  Dorick  order,  which 
supported  the  chambers  occupied  bj'  the  Legislature.  This 
building  is  in  Cornhill,  one  mile  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
yards  from  Washington  street,  the  late  forliflcation  entrance  from 
the  neck  into  the  town. 

Dec.  28,  1819,  Col.  Daniel  Messinger  hired  his 
room  and  the  one  adjoining,  lately  occupied  by 
Charles  Bridge,  for  $500. 


OLD    STA'I'K    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  109 

June  22,  1820,  the  town  voted  to  lease  all  the 
rooms  above  the  lower  story,  except  Iwo  on  Cornhill 
(i.e.,  Washington  street),  lor  ij^GOO,  to  the  Free- 
masons, and  the  selectmen  made  a  lease  accordingly 
for  ten  years  from  October  1.  The  records  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  show  that  the  last  meeting  was  June 
0,  1830. 

January  30,  1822,  the  Directors  of  the  United 
States  Bank,  being  in  search  of  a  suitable  place, 
offered  to  Ijuy  the  building;  but  the  ofter  was  not 
accepted. 

The  following  description  from  the  first  edition  of 
Boweif  s  "  Picture  of  Boston,"  1828-9,  shows  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  until  1830 :  — 


Old  State  House. — The  buildiug  first  erected  for  govern- 
mental business  was  placed  at  the  head  of  State-street.  It  has 
been  twice  burnt.  The  last  time  it  was  destroj'ed  was  in  1747, 
and  it  was  repaired  in  its  present  form,  iu  the  following  year. 
The  building  is  in  lcn;j;th  110,  in  breadth  38  feet,  three  stories 
high,  finished  according  to  the  Tuscan,  Dorick  and  Ionic  orders. 
The  lower  story  of  this  building  is  now  rented  by  the  city  for 
stores  and  offices,  the  second  and  third  stories,  except  one  room 
at  tlie  west  of  the  second  stoiy  (which  is  occupied  for  the  city 
Treasurer's  office),  are  occupied  by  the  Rlasonic  Lodges  in  Boston. 
The  Masonic  Hall  is  elegantly  embellished  ;  the  decorations  and 
furniture  are  very  rich  and  appropriate,  and  the  room  is  sufficiently 
capacious  for  most  masonic  purposes.  It  measures  43  by  32  feet 
and  is  16  feet  high.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  lodges  that 
hold  their  meetings  here,  viz., — 


110  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    HE-DEDICATION. 

Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts  on  the  second  Wednesday  in 
December,  March,  June  and    September. 

Grand  Chapter,  2d  Tnesdaj'  in  December,  June  and  .September. 

St.  John's  Lodge  on  1st  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

St.  Andrew's  on  2(1  Thursday  of  eacli  month. 

Massachusetts  on  last  Friday  of  each  mouth. 

Columbian  ou  1st  Tliursday  of  each  month. 

Mount  Lebanon  ou  last  Monday  of  each  month. 

St.  Andrew's  Chapter  on  1st  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

St.  Paul's  Chapter  on  3d  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

Council  of  K.M.  on  last  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

Encampmout  ou  .3d  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

This  building,  being  placed  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  first 
streets  in  Boston,  has  quite  a  pleasant  and  imposing  appearance 
to  the  stranger  as  he  api)roaehes  it  from  Long  AVharf.  In  Hales' 
"  Survey  of  Boston  and  Viciuitj"  the  measures  of  distances  are 
reckoned  from  this  l)nikling. 

The  accompanying-  view  is  part  of  a  large  picture 
painted,  in  1821),  l)y  Salmon,  from  a  point  on  Pcm- 
berton  Hill. 

The  city  government  was  inaugurated  at  Faneiiil 
Hall,  May  1,  1822,  but  no  an-angements  had  Ijeen 
made  foi-  a  City  Hall.  As  will  be  more  fully  shown 
in  Appendix  F,  accommodation  was  obtained  for  the 
various  departments  in  different  buildings,  the  Mayor 
and  the  City  Council  being  provided  for  in  the  Stone 
or  Comity  Conrt-IIouse  on  School  street,  on  the  site 
now  covered  by  City  Hall.  Such  a  state  of  affairs 
Avas  of  course  inconvenient,  and  the  project  of  a  City 
Hall  was  soon  agitated. 


'%> 


/^' 


WASHINGTON  STREET  END,   1850. 


STATE  STREET  END,  1880. 


VIEW  FROM  PEMBERTON  HILL,   1829. 


WASHINGTON  STREET  END,  1835. 


WASHINGTON  STREET  END.   1880. 


HELIOTYPE    PRINTING    CO      BOSTON. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  IH 

In  1830  it  was  decided  to  occujjy  the  Old  State 
House  for  city  purposes.  During  these  eiglit  years 
the  preservation  of  the  building  had  been  twice  in 
doubt.  In  [November,  1825,  it  came  near  destruction 
by  fire,  as  the  following  vote  shows :  — 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  .Jauiiaiy  23,  182G.  "  It  having  been 
made  known  to  tlie  Board  of  Aldermen,  that,  at  the  Are  in  Court 
street  in  November  last,  Mr.  Almoran  Holmes  and  Mr.  Beia 
Lincoln  were  instrumental  in  preserving  the  City  Building  called 
the  Old  State  House,  by  permitting  themselves  to  be  let  down 
from  the  oupola  to  the  ridge-pole  of  the  building,  and  from  thence 
extinguishing  the  fire  that  had  already  rekindled  upon  the  roof 
thereon  :  Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  this  board  be  presented  to 
them  for  their  distinguished  exertions  in  preserving,  with  so  inueli 
skill  and  at  so  much  personal  hazard,  in  the  manner  above  stated, 
the  property  of  the  city  from  destruction." 

Again,  in  1826,  the  Washington  Monument  Asso- 
ciation was  desirous  of  obtaining  a  site  for  Chan- 
try's statue,  now  placed  in  the  State  House.  They 
finally  decided  that  the  best  place  would  be  on  the 
site  of  the  Old  State  House,  in  a  l)iiilding  to  be 
erected  for  the  purpose.  In  a  report  published  by 
the  trustees  they  stated  "  the  reasons  which  induced 
the  Connnittee  to  prefer  the  site  of  the  Old  State 
House  had  reference  as  much  to  the  honor  and 
interests  of  the  City,  to  its  ornament  and  con- 
venience, as  to  the  peculiar  fitness  of  this  spot  for 
the  permanent  location  of  a  monument  in  honor  of 


112  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

our  First  Citizen.  This  place  was  selected  in  the 
infancy  of  our  State,  as  the  seat  of  Legislation  and 
Jurisprudence.  In  the  edifice  there  erected,  a  suc- 
cession of  firm,  enlightened,  and  vigorous  measures 
of  resistance  to  the  usurpations  of  the  British 
ministry  were  devised  and  adopted,  which  must  be 
considered  as  the  more  immediate  causes  of  our 
National  Independence,  and  it  seems  to  be  difficult 
to  reconcile  the  comi)aratively  degraded  uses,  to 
which  that  edifice  has  since  been  condemned,  with 
the  uniform  patriotism,  and  veneration  for  the  found- 
ers of  our  Republic,  for  which  the  City  of  Boston 
has  been,  at  all  periods  of  its  history,  so  distin- 
guished." The  committee  to  jiresent  this  report 
consisted  of  John  Lowell,  James  Lloyd,  fJolni  Davis, 
John  C.  "Warren,  William  Sullivan,  and  Edward 
Everett.  Objection,  however,  was  made  by  the 
public,  and  the  building  happily  escaped  destruction 
at  the  hands  of  those  who  esteemed  themselves  its 
friends. 

The  work  of  restoration,  in  1830,  was  confided  to 
Isaiah  Rogers,  and  he  entrusted  part  of  the  details  to 
a  young  architect  just  beginning  the  series  of  works 
which  makes  the  name  of  William  Washl)ui-n  fiimiliar 
to  us.  It  was  a  time  when  classical  types  were  in 
vogue,  and,  therefore,  the  additions  were  patterned 
on  Grecian  models.  Heavy  wooden  porticos  were 
added  at  each  end,  and  these  halls   on  the  second 


City    IIali.,   1830. 
(From   Snow's  Geography.) 


City    Hai.l,   1835. 
(From  Bewick  C'o.'s  M;iii.  i 


l_'iii     I1ai_i,    1838. 
(Bowen's  Picture.) 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  113 

floor  were  fitted  to  the  uses  of  the  City  Council. 
In  this  room  the  Aldermen  met;  in  the  Repre- 
sentatives' Hall  the  Common  Council.  The  pre- 
ceding extracts  from  Bowen  and  Shaw,  with  the 
accompanying  pictures,  fully  illustrate  this  occu- 
pancy, which  lasted  for  ten  years,  until  1840,  and 
which,  indeed,  is  recollected  by  many  of  our 
citizens. 

To  complete  the  record  we  copy  the  following 
from  the  third  edition  of  Bowen's  "  Picture,"  dated 
1838,  when  there  was  already  a  discussion  about 
leaving  the  building :  — 

City  Hall.  —  The  first  Imililiug  for  goverumental  business  was 
erected  at  the  head  of  what  was  then  called  King-street,  about 
1658.  It  has  been  twice  liuriit.  The  last  time  it  was  destroyed 
was  1747,  and  it  was  repaired  in  tlie  following  year  nearly  in  its 
present  form.  The  building  is  in  length  110,  in  breadth  3<8  feet, 
three  stories  high,  finished  according  to  the  Tuscan,  Doric  and 
Ionic  orders.  Till  recently  it  was  called  the  "  Old  State  House." 
The  latitude  of  this  building  is  very  near  42  deg.  21  min.  north ; 
the  longitude  is  71  deg.  3  min.  30  sec.  west  from  Greenwich,  in 
England. 

After  the  Revolution,  it  was  the  place  of  meeting  for  the 
General  Court,  till  after  the  completion  of  the  State  House  near 
Beacon  Hill.  From  about  that  time,  to  the  year  1830  (thirty 
years),  the  lower  floor  and  cellar  were  used  by  various  tradesmen, 
Insurance  Offices,  etc. 

On  the  17th  Sept.,  1830,  having  been  thoroughly  repaired,  it 
was,  by  an  ordinance  of  tiie  City  Government,  called  the  "  City 
Hall," — b}' which  name  it  has  since  been  designated.     It  stands 


114  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

at  the  head  of  State  sti-eet  and  on  the  line  of  Washington  street, 
the  Broad  way  of  the  metropolis  of  Massachusetts,  lia\'nig  a  tower 
overlooking  most  of  the  city  and  harbor,  rising  from  the  centre  of 
the  roof.  The  fronts  on  Washington  and  State  streets  have  each 
a  portico.  Being  in  the  very  focus  of  business  and  nearly  in  the 
centre  of  the  city,  the  use  to  which  this  venerable  pile  is  now 
devoted  appears  to  give  universal  satisfaction. 

On  the  first  floor  are  three  large  rooms  ;  that  facing  Wasiiing- 
ton  street  is  the  Post-Offlce.  At  the  other  extremity,  looking 
down  State  street,  is  Toplift"s  News  Room,  one  of  the  best  con- 
ducted establishments,  for  the  accommodation  of  merchants,  in  the 
United  States.  The  middle  room,  a  lofty  apartment,  supported 
by  pillars,  is  the  Merchants'  Exchange,  and  common  thorongh- 
fare  to  the  public  offices. 

From  this  central  room  is  a  fligiit  of  winiling  stairs,  leading  to 
a  suite  of  apartments  in  the  second  story.  Directly  over  tlie  Post- 
Offlce  is  the  Hall  of  the  Common  Council,  in  which  they  ordinarily 
meet  on  public  business.  In  the  opposite  end  of  the  building  is 
the  Hall  of  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen.  In  this  room  the  chief 
Magistrate  of  the  city,  together  witli  the  City  Clerk,  remain 
through  the  day,  in  tlie  discharge  of  their  ordinuiy  duties.  The 
Board  of  Aldermen  hold  their  meetings,  also,  on  Monday  even- 
ings. Around  the  circular  area  of  the  stairs  are  a  series  of 
Offices,  viz.,  the  Auditor's,  Treasurer's,  Assistant  City  Clerk's, 
Clerk  of  Common  Council,  and  the  Health  Office,  which  latter 
accommodates  the  City  Marsiial,  Superintendent  of  Burial  Grounds, 
Physician  of  the  Port,  Captain  of  the  Port,  Captain  of  the  Watch, 
Superintendent  of  Lamps,  and  the  Commissioner  (jf  .Streets. 

Another  flight  of  stairs  leads  to  the  third  story,  in  which  is  the 
Office  of  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  Department,  City  Land 
Commissioner,  Messenger,  a  Committee  Room,  and  a  large  Hall, 
in  which  is  a  recently  organized  public  Vaccine  Institution,  for  tlie 
gratuitous  inoculation  of  the  poor. 


III..  Fiu,.  IS  10.:-.     ,l,„„.  .,„li„„„.  In.,,,,-. 


r^ 


OLD    STxi-TE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  115 

The  whole  is  lighted  with  gas,  as  well  as  the  lamps  at  the  four 
corners  of  the  baildiiig.  Besides  being  ornamental  to  the  city, 
the  concentration  of  so  many  important  offices  under  one  roof 
renders  the  City  Hall  an  object  of  peculiar  interest. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1832,  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, this  ancient  building,  the  scene  of  so  many  interesting  events, 
again  took  fire  from  an  opposite  building,  under  the  stool  of  one 
of  the  Lutheran  windows,  which  soon  communicated  with  the 
under  side  of  the  roof,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  uncommon  ex- 
ertions of  the  fire  department  it  must  have  been  completely  pros- 
trated in  a  little  time.  As  it  was,  however,  the  damages  were 
easil}'  repaired.  The  appropriation  of  the  Council  for  the  purpose 
was  $3,500.00.  No  papers  of  importance,  were  lost,  and  the 
curious  records  of  the  city,  from  its  first  settlement,  for  a  third 
time,  were  safely  rescued  from  a  devouring  element. 

In  Hales'  "  Survey  of  Boston  and  Vicinity,"  the  measures  of 
distance  are  reckoned  from  this  building. 

The  building  was,  for  a  third  time,  put  in  peril, 
when,  on  the  21st  of  November,  1832,  the  fire  in 
a  building  opposite  was  communicated  to  the  roof 
of  this  building,  but,  happily,  was  soon  arrested. 
Salmon's  picture  of  the  event  is  familiar  to  us  all, 
having  been  engraved  on  the  diplomas  of  the  Fire 
Department.  Surely  we  may  say  of  the  venerable 
tower,  almost  in  Longfellow's  words,  — 

"In  the  market-place  of  Bruges,  stands  the  belfry  old  and  brown, 
Thrice  consumed  and  tlirice  rebuikled,  still  it  watches  o'er  the  town." 


After  the  removal  of  the  City  Hall  to  its  School- 
street    site,  this  building  was    again    abandoned   to 


116  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

business  purposes,  and,  in  tlic  liands  of  successive 
lessees,  it  rapidly  deteriorated.  A  hideous  mansard 
roof  disfigured  its  external  lines;  new  partitions 
obliterated  for  the  time  the  fair  proportions  of  these 
halls;  signs,  telegraph  wires  and  jooles  in  countless 
number  contributed  to  the  shameful  defacement. 
The  annexed  copy  of  an  engi-aving  issued  at  that 
date  jDortrays  the  wreck  better  than  any  description 
can.  So  completely  were  the  memories  of  the  site 
forgotten,  and  so  arrogant  were  the  fancied  demands 
of  commerce,  that,  in  1875,  it  was  almost  decided 
to  pull  down  the  building.  Happily  better  counsels 
prevailed,  and  the  building  was  spared,  though 
even  then  it  received  a  fresh  injury  iu  the  form 
of  a  huge  stairway  cut  tlu-ough  the  walls  of  the 
eastern  end,  as  shown  in  the  picture  of  that  date. 
In  1881,  the  City  Council  authorized  that  work  of 
restoration,  which,  on  its  completion,  is  to-day 
submitted    to   your    consideration. 

A  complete  account  of  what  has  been  done  is  to 
be  read  in  Appendix  G,  furnished  by  the  City 
Architect.  It  will  be  enough  to  state  at  present, 
that  we  now  behold  substantially  the  same  halls 
which  echoed  the  eloquence  of  Adams,  Quincy, 
Otis,  and  Warren,  and  wliich  witnessed  the  baffled 
intrigues  of  Hutchinson  and  Oliver,  and  the  un- 
successful plans  of  Gage  and  Clinton,  Howe  and 
Burgoyne. 


o 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  1  17 

When,  in  1830,  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  then  mayor 
of  the  city,  stood  here  to  welcome  tlie  inauguration 
of  his  government,  he  thus  addressed  the  Council 
in  regard  to  this  building:  — 

It  exhibits  no  pomp  of  architectural  grandeur  or  refined  taste, 
and  has  no  pretensions  to  vie  with  the  magnificent  structures 
of  other  countries  or  even  of  our  own.  Yet  it  is  a  goodly  and 
venerable  pile ;  and  with  recent  improvements  is  an  ornament 
of  the  place,  of  whose  liberty  it  was  once  the  citadel.  And  it 
has  an  interest  for  Bostouians  who  enter  it  this  da\-,  like  that 
which  is  felt  by  grown  children  for  an  ancient  matron  by  whom 
they  were  reared,  and  whom,  visiting  after  years  of  absence, 
the^'  find  in  her  neat,  chaste,  old-fashioned  attire,  spruced  up  to 
receive  them,  with  her  comforts  about  her,  and  the  same  kind, 
hospitable,  and  excellent  creature  whom  they  left  in  less  flourish- 
ing circumstances.  But  to  this  edifice  there  is  not  only  a  natural, 
but  "  a  spiritual  body,"  which  is  the  immortal  soul  of  Independ- 
ence. Nor  is  there,  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  another  building, 
however  venerable  for  its  antiquity,  or  stately  in  its  magnificence, 
however  decorated  bj'  columns  and  porticos,  and  cartoons,  and 
statues  and  altars,  and  outshining  the  wealth  of  Ormus  or  of 
Ind,  entitled  in  history  to  more  honorable  mention,  or  whose 
spires  and  turrets  are  surrounded  with  more  glorious  halo  than 
this  unpretending  building. 

I  refer  you  to  the  day  when  Independence,  mature  in  age  and 
loveliness,  advanced  with  angelic  grace  from  the  chamber  in  which 
she  was  born  into  the  same  balcony,  and  holding  in  her  hand  the 
immortal  scroll  on  which  her  name  and  character,  and  claims  to 
her  inheritance  were  inscribed,  received  from  the  street,  filled  with 
an  impenetrable  phalanx,  and  windows  glittering  with  a  blaze  of 
beauty,    the   heartfelt   homage   and    electrifying   peals   of    men, 


118  OLD     STATE     HOUSE     RE-DEDICATKJN. 

woinoii,  and  children  of  the  whole  eity.  Tlie  si)h-iiil()i'  of  that 
glorious  vision  of  luj'  childhood  seems  to  be  now  present  to  my  view, 
and  the  harmony  of  that  nniversal  concert  to  vibrate  in  my  ear. 

We,  gentlemen,  have  now  become,  for  a  short  period,  occu- 
pants of  this  Temple  of  Liberty.  Henceforth,  for  many  years, 
the  City  Government  will  iirobaldy  be  here  administered. 
May  we,  and  those  who  will  succeed  us,  appreciate  the  respon- 
siblencss  attached  to  our  places  by  the  merit  of  our  predecessors  ; 
and  though  we  cannot  serve  our  country  to  the  same  advantage, 
may  we  love  it  with  equal  fidelity.  And  may  the  guardian  genius 
of  our  beloved  city  forever  delight  to  dwell  in  those  renovated 
walls ! 

After  the  lapse  of  half  a  century  Ave  assemble  to 
renew  these  pious  labors,  and  to  repeat  his  fervent 
prayers  for  their  success;  but  the  times  are  more 
propitious  for  us,  since  the  present  generation  has 
been  taught  anew  the  necessity  of  perpetually  culti- 
vating those  patriotic  virtues  which  alone  can  ani- 
mate a  nation  in  times  of  adversity. 

Twenty  years  have  passed  since  the  assembled 
citizens  of  Boston  were  again  aroused,  from  the 
balcony  of  this  chamber,  by  the  eloquence  of  those 
speakers  who  uttered  the  cry,  "  To  arms !  " 

God  grant  that  in  our  day  that  appeal  may  never 
again  be  made ;  but  should  the  necessity  arise,  it  must 
be  made  to  a  community  which  has  been  daily 
familiar  with  the  lessons  taught  by  the  memories  of 
these  halls  as  well  as  of  the  "  Cradle  of  Liberty,"  — 
Faneuil  Hall. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    KE-DKniCATION.  119 

"Here  the  child  Independence  was  born!"  and 
what  untold  glories  in  the  future  that  birth  por- 
tended !  The  independence  for  which  our  fathers 
fought  was  freedom  of  thought,  speech,  and  action  in 
every  land  and  in  eveiy  generation.  The  chain 
which  they  broke  Avas  not  simply  that  of  Great 
Britain  over  America,  but  the  greater  fetters  of 
usurped  authority  over  the  bodies  and  minds  of 
millions  in  other  lands.  To  our  success  is  to  be 
attributed  whatever  liberty  has  been  achieved  for  the 
suifering  nations  of  Europe,  or  for  the  long-enslaved 
victims  of  unwarrantable  oppression  in  our  own  land. 
I  had  thought  I  had  recited  all  the  stirring  events 
connected  with  this  building,  but  I  pause  to  add  that 
it  afforded  a  temporary  shelter  to  William  Lloyd 
Garrison,  as  he  was  unwillingly  rescued  from  the  mis- 
guided rage  of  a  pro-slavery  mob.  Let  us  rejoice 
that  we  to-day  can  assert,  that,  among  the  results 
of  that  Independence  which  was  first  proclaimed 
on  this  spot,  has  been  the  purging  of  the  Great 
ReiJublic  of  the  anomalous  stain  and  reproach  of 
domestic  slavery. 

And,  surely,  if  we  have,  at  so  great  cost  of  treasure 
and  blood,  expiated  our  national  sin,  we  may  tui'n, 
with  exjjectant  gaze,  to  our  sister  nations  for  a  simi- 
lar sacrifice.  The  independence  which  we  inculcate 
demands  that,  wherever,  under  any  professed  foi'm  of 
law,  the  labor  of  the  peasant  profits  only  his  master. 


120  OLD    STATU    IIOUSK    HE-DEDICATION. 

that  iniquity  shall  cease,  —  whether  it  be  in  ihe 
familiar  case  of  Ireland,  whose  wrongs  meet  with  so 
prompt  a  response  in  kindred  bosoms  here,  —  or  of 
Russia,  where  the  lurid  torch  of  Nihilism  reveals 
the  misery  of  untold  millions,  —  or  wherever  else  the 
wretched  serf  looks  eagerly  to  the  land  of  promise 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Fellow-citizens,  so  long  as  we  maintain  the  sacred 
fires  upon  the  altars,  we  may  claim  the  right  to  be 
especially  favored  by  the  divinity.  I  cannot  allow 
myself  to  dwell  upon  the  possibility  of  any  future 
sin-render  of  these  walls  to  any  purjjose  less  appro- 
priate than  that  we  now  celebrate.  I  cannot  antici- 
pate any  decrease  in  the  prospei'ity  or  the  public 
spirit  of  our  beloved  city.  T  can  only  predict  that 
future  generations,  for  centuries  to  come,  will  'sdsit 
this  sjjot  and  will  remembei-  us  thankfully  for  what 
we  have  this  day  done. 

To  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  as  the  highest  representative 
of  the  city,  I  now  transfer  the  cai"e  and  custody  of 
the  Old  State  House,  felicitating  you  upon  the  hon- 
orable duty,  and  congratulating  the  city  that  it 
devolves  upon  one  so  well  qualified,  by  assiduous 
study,  to  appreciate  the  value  of  this  acquisition. 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  121 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Whitmore's  address,  His  Honor 
INIayor  Green  said  :  — 

MAYOK   GREEN'S   REMARKS. 

Mr.  Chairman :  —  The  Old  State  House  to-day 
comes  back  to  the  city,  and  as  the  chief  executive 
officer  I  greet  the  venerable  structure  with  a  warm 
and  hearty  welcome.  After  an  occupation  of  many 
years  for  piu-poscs  of  general  business,  these  halls 
are  now  to  be  used  for  the  reception  and  preserva- 
tion of  historical  objects  of  local  interest.  The  com- 
mittee of  which  you  are  at  the  head,  Mr.  Alderman, 
having  this  matter  in  charge,  deserve  the  thanks  of 
the  community,  for  tlae  wa}'  in  which  it  has  been 
done.  I  know  full  well  that  the  work  has  fallen 
largely  on  the  shoulders  of  the  Councilman  who  has 
given  us  this  morning  his  interesting  and  instructive 
address,  and  it  is  through  his  untiring  zeal  as  an 
antiquary  that  this  plan  has  been  brought  to  a  suc- 
cessful issue.  I  sympathize  most  warmly  with  him 
in  the  expression  that  the  use  we  now  give  to  these 
halls  may  be  the  permanent  one.  He  has  told  how 
this  l)iiilding  was  erected  as  a  town-house,  and 
traced  its  history  from  the  earliest  days  to  the 
present  time.  Its  close  connection  with  the  various 
political  events  of  our  city  and  State  makes  it  a 
conspicuous  monument  in  our  local  annals. 


122  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

The  formal  dedication  of  a  public  building  is  a 
custom  of  comparatively  modern  times.  The  found- 
ers of  !N^ew  England  were  too  busy  to  indulge  in 
mere  formalities;  and,  even  if  the}^  had  the  time,  they 
were  apt  to  look  upon  such  observances  as  idle  and 
frivolous.  They  regarded  the  various  purposes  to 
wliicli  a  building  was  put  as  in  themselves  a  sufficient 
dedication;  and  for  this  reason  they  avoided  any 
special  ceremony  to  emphasize  its  objects  or  uses. 
While  it  is  true,  then,  that  this  structure  was  never 
formally  dedicated,  it  is  equally  true  that  it  was  con-  . 
secrated  by  all  that  was  high  and  noble  in  patriotic 
sei'vice,  through  the  words  that  were  spoken  and  the 
deeds  that  were  insjiired  within  its  walls. 

The  political  town-meeting  is  an  outgrowth  of 
New  England  life,  and  it  has  been  the  very  cradle  of 
American  liberty  and  independence.  It  originated 
with  the  first  comers  and  has  been  kept  up  by  their 
successors  till  the  present  time.  The  freemen  of  the 
several  towns  came  together  in  public  meeting  to  dis- 
cuss and  settle  questions  of  general  interest.  They 
chose  town  officers,  to  whom  was  delegated  the 
power  to  manage  their  civil  as  well  as  ecclesiastical 
affairs.  It  was  at  such  gatherings  that  a  free  and 
full  recognition  of  popular  rights  was  first  made  in 
this  country,  and  the  very  foundation  and  corner- 
stone of  oiu"  present  political  system  laid.  The  best 
insight  of  the  forces  that  developed  local  self-gov- 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  123 

ernment  is  to  be  found  in  the  action  of  such  meet- 
ings. Tlie  causes  that  brouglit  about  tlie  separation 
of  the  American  colonies  from  the  mother  country 
were  ripening  during  many  years,  but  they  were  kept 
ahve  and  active  by  these  public  assemblages.  Bos- 
ton was  the  largest  and  most  influential  town  on  the 
continent,  and  was  always  ready  to  take  the  lead  in 
public  affairs.  When  she  spoke,  her  voice  was  heard 
with  no  doubtful  sound,  and  she  had  all  New  Eng- 
land for  an  audience.  Her  utterances  were  given 
from  this  building  as  Avell  as  from  Faneuil  Hall  and 
the  Old  South  Meeting-house.  These  three  struct- 
ures are  full  of  historical  reminiscences  and  associa- 
tions, and  I  envy  not  the  man  who  can  approach 
any  one  of  them  with  ordinary  feelhigs.  Rude 
though  they  are  in  external  form  they  represent 
in  their  traditions  the  highest  form  of  religion 
and  patriotism,  as  understood  by  the  framers  of 
our  government.  He  lacks  some  of  the  human 
sensibilities  whose  heart  is  not  thrilled,  and  whose 
emotions  are  not  quickened,  when  he  enters  their 
portals. 

I  do  not  forget  the  fact  that  this  building  Avas 
occupied  by  the  municipal  authorities  during  a  period 
of  ten  yeai's.  On  Sept.  17,  1830,  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  Boston,  the  City 
Government,  under  the  Mayoralty  of  Harrison  Gray 
Otis,  took  possession  of  these  apartments,  and  used 


124  OLD    STATE    HOUSJ:    KE-I)EDICAT10X. 

them  until  March  18,  181:1.  It  was  under  this  roof 
that  the  aclmijiistrations  of  Charles  Wells,  Theodore 
Lyman,  Samuel  T.  Armstrong,  and  Samuel  A.  Eliot 
were  carried  on;  and  it  was  while  Jonathan  Chap- 
man was  Mayor  that  the  city  offices  were  again 
removed  to  the  City  Hall,  standing  hetween  Court 
square  and  School  street.  "Whatever  may  be  the  fate 
of  other  public  buildings,  let  us  cherish  the  hope  that 
the  Old  State  House  may  stand  as  a  connecting  link 
between  the  provincial  and  national  jjeriods  of  our 
country's  history,  and  that  it  may  continually  remind 
us  of  the  unselfish  devotion  and  hard  struggles  of 
the  men  who  laid  the  foundation  of  our  present  gov- 
ernment. 

Alderman  ELerset.  —  I  recognize  among  our 
honored  guests  to-day,  the  face  and  form  of  him 
whose  memory  extends  far  back  into  the  past,  and 
Avho,  I  know,  can  give  us  some  personal  reminis- 
cences connected  with  this  building.  I  allude  to 
the  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder. 

REMARKS   OF    HON.    MARSHALL   P.    WILDER. 

I  did  not  expect,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  Mr.  Chairman, 
to  be  called  upon  here  to  say  a  single  word  to-day. 
At  my  time  of  life,  and  under  tliis  oppressive  heat, 
my  words  must  be  very  few.  But  I  rejoice  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  that  I  am  able  to  be  here  on  this 


OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION.  125 

consecrated  spot,  and  participate  in  the  ceremony  of 
the  restoration  of  tlie  Old  State  House. 

I  say  my  words  must  be  few;  but  I  desire  to 
tender  to  His  Honor  tlie  Mayor,  and  to  the  City 
Government,  the  thanks  of  the  Historic-Genealogi- 
cal Society,  in  their  behalf  and  in  my  own;  I  desire 
to  thank  you  for  the  wisdom  of  making  the  aj^pro- 
priation  which  has  placed  again,  as  we  believe,  much 
in  its  old  style,  this  building  of  former  days;  and  I 
desire  to  thank  Mr.  Whitmore  for  his  energetic, 
enterprising,  persistent,  aiid  successful  labors  in  bring- 
ing again  into  this  form,  this  structure,  so  ancient, 
and  so  renowned  in  the  history  of  this  city,  because 
of  the  events,  so  graphically  described  by  Mr.  AVhit- 
more  and  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  which  transjiired 
upon  this  spot.  Here  Independence  drew  its  first 
breath.  This  spot,  now  consecrated  by  the  restora- 
tion of  this  building,  will  perpetuate  the  history  of 
those  men,  who,  more  than  any  others,  led  in  the 
American  revolution,  and  gave  to  the  world  the  first 
great,  free,  and  independent  nation  on  earth. 

The  work  has  been  well  accomplished.  Nothing 
could  be  more  appropriate ;  and  the  provision  made 
for  it  by  the  City  Government,  I  am  sure  you  will 
all  say,  could  not  have  been  more  judiciously  ex- 
ijended.  For  I  hold  that  next  to  training  the  spirit 
for  the  life  eternal,  there  is  no  obligation  more 
solemn  than  that  of  perpetuating  to  future  genera- 


126  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    UE-DEDICATION. 

tioiis  the  principles  and  virtues  of  those  noble  men 
who  gave  to  the  world  this  great  republic,  —  principles 
and  virtues  upon  which  must  ever  rest  the  happiness 
and  prosperity  of  all  our  people. 


This  ended  the  fornical  exercises.  The  following  letters, 
addressed  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Conuiiittee,  Alderman 
"\\'oolley,  were  not  read,  owing  to  his  absence  ;  but  they  are 
worthy  of  preservation  in  the  history  of  the  celebration :  — 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

Executive  Department,  July  8,  1882. 
My  dear  Mr.  Alderman  :  —  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  invi- 
tation  to  the   re-dedication    of    the    Old    State    House,    ;yith   its 
interesting  associatious.     I  am  unable  to  accept  on   accouut  of 
engagements    at  the  same   liour,  but  I  beg  to  send  my  kindest 

wishes  for  the  occasion. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOHN   D.    LONG. 

Wm.  Woolley,  Esq. 

Navy  Yard,  Boston, 

Commandant's  Office,  July  10,  1882. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  your  kind 
invitation  to  attend  at  the  Old  State  House  to-morrow  to  partici- 
pate in  the  ceremonies  of  the  re-dedication  of  that  ancient  and 
interesting  structure.  I  greatly  regret  that  my  health  is  such 
that  I  will  not  be  able  to  attend. 

With   many  thanks  to  you  and  to  Mr.  Whitmore,  I  have  the 

honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

O.  C.  BADGER,  Gummodore,  U.S.N. 
Wn.nAM  Woolley,  Esq., 

City  Council,  City  Hall,  Boston. 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDIX  A. 


Copies  of  Oi-ig-inal  Papers,  in  the  possession  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  relating-  to  the  Erec- 
tion of  the  Town  House  in  Boston  in  1657. 


POWER    CONFERRED   BY   THE    COMMITTEES   FOR  THE   TOWN 

HOUSE  — lG5r. 

Wee  whose  names  are  vnder  wrighten  having  full  power  given  vs  by  the 
Town  of  Boston  to  Agree  with  workmen,  &  in  their  behalfe  to  Engadge  the 
Town,  In  the  Payment  of  any  sum  or  sums  for  the  building  Erecting  &  Com- 
pleating  of  A  house  for  the  Town  both  for  the  forme  &dimentions  &c.  accord- 
ing as  we  shall  Judge  meet.  They  the  s''  Towne  having  Engadged  themselves 
to  own  &  stand  by  vs  and  pforme  what  promises  Covenants  or  Engadgm  wee 
should  make  in  order  to  the  accomplishing  of  the  premises.  And  to  facillitate 
the  s''  worke  we  the  s''  subscribed  doe  make  clioyce  of  M  Edward  Hutchinson 
&  John  Hull  in  o  behalfe  to  Agree  &  Compound  with  workmen  &  Engadge 
paym'  in  evcrie  respect  fur  the  s""  worke  &  we  doe  hereby  oblidge  o'  selves  to 
stand  by,  own,  &  performe  what  the  s''  M'  Ed:  Hutchinson  &  Jn  Hull  Soe 
deputed  shall  doe  or  Engadge  themselves  in  as  iff"  it  was  the  personall  act  of 
everie  one  off  vs  &  heervnto  we  subscribe  o'  hands,  by  this  binding  o"-  selves 
likewise  to  own  what  the  s''  prtyes  have  allridy  done  in  the  s''  worke  signed 
this  31  of  the  6'"  month  1C57. 


Townesmen 
Commissioners 


Tno:   Marshall 
Samuel  Cole 
William  Paddy 
Josh:   Scottow 
.  Jer:  Howcuin 


AGREEM1'   FOR   THE   TOWN   HOUSE  — 1057. 

Boston,  August  1,  1657. 

Wee  whose  names  are  vnder  wrighten  Being  chosen  by  &  in  behalfe  of  the 
Towne  of  Boston,  to  bargain  &  Contract  with  some  able  workmen  about  A 


130  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    IlE-DEDICATION. 

house  for  the  Town,  we  have  hargaincil  &  Contracted,  &  by  tliese  presents  doe 
bargain  &  Covenant  witli  Tliomas  Joy  and  Bartholomew  HernaU  of  Boston  ;  & 
the  s<l  Thomas  Joy  &  Barth  Bernad,"  arc  liecrby  bound  &  doe  oblidge  them- 
selves vnto  the  s"*  Town  of  Boston  i&  in  vn  [to]  In  llieire  lichaltV)  that  they 
will  Prepare  &  Erect,  a  very  substantial!  and  Comely  huildinj;  In  the  place 
Appointed  by  the  s<^  Town ;  The  dimentions  of  W^''  Edilice  shall  be  sixty  six  foot 
in  Length,  and  thirty  six  foot  in  Breadth  from  out  side  to  out  side,  set  vpon 
twenty  one  Fillers  of  full  ten  foot  high  between  redestall  &  Capitall,  & 
well  brased  all  four  waies,  placed  upon  foundation  of  stones  in  the  bottome. 
The  whoU  Building  to  Jetty  over  three  foot  without  the  Tillers  everie  way  : 
The  height  of  the  s''  House  to  be  ten  foot  betwixt  Joynts  al)ove  tlie  Pillers, 
and  a  halfe  storie  above  that  with  three  gable  Endes  over  it  vpon  each 
side:  A  walUe  vpon  the  Top  tburteen  or  15  i'oote  wide  with  two  Turrets,  & 
turned  Balasters  and  railes,  round  al)out  the  walke  according  to  A  modell  or 
draught  Presented  to  vs,  by  the  s''  Tho:  Joy,  &  Barth:  Bernad.  The  s^^  Tho: 
Joy  &  Barth.  Bernad  Likewise  finding  things  necisarie  and  meet  for  the  s"! 
Building  viz  :  Timber  in  in  eveno  respect  &  of  everie  sort,  s>il)st:intiall  &  meet 
according  to  Proportion  &  Art,  Plank  for  the  sides  &  ends  three  Inch  thick,* 
>vell  groved  into  one  another,  and  into  the  timbers  allso  an  In<di  and  halfe ; 
well  plained  and  smoothed  on  Both  sides,  two  Inch  plank  for  the  lower 
lloor,  and  full  Inch  for  the  vpper  floor.  Both  smoothed,  and  vpon  tlie  walk 
duble  boarded  and  well  groved;  the  Roofl'  well  boarded  &  shingled,  with 
gutters  sufficiently  made. 

Bringing  all  to  "the  Place,  Erecting  finishing  &  Compleating  the  whole  Edi- 
fice vizThe  Frame,  foundations,  Floores,  staires  (viz  Two  p:iir  halfe  paced 
staires  &  turned  staires  vp  into  the  walke)  doores,  window  Cases  &  C:isements 
mantle  peeces  Inclosures  IVrtitions  t  &cThe  wholl  Edifice  to  be  Erected,  by 
the  thirty  daye  of  the  fourth  month  called  June  next  ensuing  the  date  heer- 
off  and  Covered  :ind  shingled  within  six  weekes  after  tliat.  The  Town  find- 
ing all  the  Iron  worke,  as  nailes  iiookes  hinges  &c.  glass  with  glasing  and  Lead 
for  the  Gutters  masonrie  worke  as  the  ehimnies,  foundation  of  the  Pillers  with 
stone  brick  &  Lime  belonging  to  the  Siime  the  affo's''  Tho:  &  Barth:  all  the 
other  worke  as  affo,*''     The  Town  finding  help  at  the  raysing. 

In  consideration  of  the  premises  we  doe  heerby  oblidge  ourselves  (accord- 
ing to  order  &  in  behalfe  of  the  s-^  Town  of  Boston  affcn-s'')  To  give  &  Assigne 
over  vnto  the  s''  Tho:  Joy  &  Barthol:  Bernad  or  to  either  of  them  or  their 
assignes  tlie  three  Ilund:  Pounds  W^''  is  that  Part  of  the  Legacy  of  C;ip'  Rob 
Keyne  (deceased)  designed  &  bequeathed  vnto  the  s''  Town  in  his  Last  will  for 
ther  vse,  and  also  one  hund.  Pound  more  we  heerby  oblidge  o'selves  to  Pay 
or  Cause  to  bepaied  vnto  the  .s'' Thomas  &  Bartholomew  or  their  Assignes  In 
good  English  goods  at  price  Currant,  and  likewise  to  doe  our  vttmost  that  one 
fiffty  pound  of  this  above  mentioned  ])ayiu'  (viz  out  of  the  thre  Hun'')  maybe 
made  in  mony  for  the  more  lively  cavsing  an  end  of  the  afio's'i  worke. 

The  time  wi:'"  Payment  shall  he  as  followeth  viz  :  one  Hund.  Pound  at  the 
Bringing  of  the  Timber  to  the  Place  A  second  Huml:  at  the  raysing  A  third 
Hund:  at  the  inclosurc  &  Covering  A  fourth  at  the  finishing  and  Comjileating 
vnto  all  these  premises  abovcs''  we  doe  heerby  Joy  ntly  &  severaly  mutualy  & 
Interchangeablv  bind  o''selves  by  o^  hands  &  se;iles  this  first  of  August,  lGo7. 

We  doe  also  engadge  that  the  three  Ilund:  jiound  in  the  Legacy  above  s* 
shall  be  made  good  vnto  the  s''  workmen  Thomas  &  Bartholomew. 
Witness  heer  vnto 

Joseph  Newgate  Edward  Hutchinson        [seal] 

James  Browne  John  Hull       [seal] 

Henry  Powning 


*  Only  we  alow  of  Two  Inch  plank  for  the  sides  &  ends  above  the  Plates  &  bcaraes. 

t  There  is  to  be  both  Ronmcs  from  the  cbimnics  closed  on  both  tides  and  one  Cross  partition 
in  one  of  the  Rooraes;  beside  the  stair  case. 


APPENDIX   A. 


131 


COPY   OF   THE    SUBSCRIPTION   PAPER  FOR   THE   FIRST   TOWN 
HOUSE  IN  BOSTON,  ERECTED   BETWEEN  1057  AND  1659. 

Wheariis  thcar  is  giucn  a  considerabl  sume  by  Capt  Kayne  towars  the 
BuUling  of  a  towne  house  w"''  siiin  will  not  ataino  the  IJulding  w=''  he  men- 
tioneth  in  his  will,  now  considering  the  vsef  uUncs  of  such  a  structure  ive  whose 
names  arc  vndcr  written,  doe  ingag  or  selues  or  heyres  executors  for  to  giue 
towards  the  abou  sd  hous  and  alsoe  a  condit  in  the  market  place  the  severall 
sumes  vnder  written. 


17.  pd 
pd 
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pd  46  s 


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paid 

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paid 
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paid. 

paid 
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pd 
paid 


paid 

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paid 
paid 
paid 
pd 
paid 

[  ]  P'l 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 


ill  in 


Jo:  Endecott 

Ri  Bellingham  in  Coimtry  pay 
Edward  Tynge  in  Corne 
John  Euerod  in  goods  and  corne     . 
Peter  OUiuer  in  goods  and  provisions 
John'*  Barrett :  in  goods  :  or  corne 

d.  2D  Aug.  1C58 
James  OUiuer  provided  there  be  a  CunditwitI 

goods  and  provisions  eqelly 
Will  Paine  in  goods  and  provisions 
Richard  Parker  in  goods  and  provisions 
Nathaniell  Willian\s  in  goods 
Sarah  Parker  in  jn'ovisions 
Henry  Powning  in  goods 
John  Cogan  in  Corne      .... 

[         ]  five  pound        .... 
Theodore  Atkinson  will  give  in  hats 

Tho  Howkings 

John  Hull  In  English  goods  five'" 
Thonirs  Clarke  in  provision  or  goods 

Robt  Turner 

Richard  Cooke  in  provisions   . 

Robert  Swift 

Samuel  Hutchinson  in  wheat  . 
Josh  Seottow  in  pvision  or  goods    . 
Will™  Hudson  will :  pay  in  bricks  lyeme 

boards  [         ]  or  timber  the  some  of  . 
Hezekiah  Usher  :  will  ]iay  2  In  English 

Goods  or  equivolent,  twentye  :  poundes, 

prouiso  :  y'  y"  market  house  bee  Errected 

in  y"  markett  place-  &  a  Cunditt. 
W"  Dauis  Avill  pay  in  goods  &  corne  Fifteene  pounds 

provided  y'^  market-house  be  cerected  in  y"  markett 

place  &  a  conduitt  also  raised  &  Finished   . 
Thomas  Buttolph    ....... 

James  Penn    ........ 

Jacob  Sheafo  in  provision  &  goods 
Tho:  Lake  4  In  English-goods  &  4  In  provisions    . 
Isaak  Waker  in  English  goods  or  provisions  . 
John  Sunderlinc  3£         .....         . 


£ 
2- 
10- 
10- 
010- 
10= 
03- 


12- 
15 
IO- 
CS- 
05- 
02- 

05- 

005 
02 
05 
0-t- 
5- 
03 
02 


-10—00 
■00—00  pd 
■00—00  pd 
:00— 00  pd 

=00—00 

-00-00 

-  0-00  pd 
,  00  .  00 
-00-00  pd 
-00-00  pd 
-00-00  pd 
-00-00  ].d 

-00-00  pd 

:00  :00  pd 

0—  0 
-00—00  pd 
-00—00  pd 
-0—0  pd 
10  00  pd 
.  10  00  pd 
.  00—00  pd 
:00— 00  pd 


10=00=00  pd 


20=00=00  pd 


Robt:  Pateshall, 
Thomas  Matson 
John  Williams 
Thomas  Edsell 
Tliomas  Bligh 


in  planke  or  boards 


15 
02- 
05- 
12- 
09- 
03- 
03- 
05 
1- 
0- 
00- 
00- 


00—00 
-00—00 
-00-00 
-00  :00 
-00—00 
-00=00 
00  :00 
-  0—  0 
-10—  0 
-10—  0 
-15     00 


132 


OLD    STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 


paid    Richard  Gridley 

. 

02—00—00 

paid   Jolin  Button    .... 

. 

05—00—  0 

Benjamin  NcRUs 

Jamt's  Eueritt  in  Flower 

01—00-00 

Robt  Batterly 

00— l.i— 00 

paid   John  Coney     .... 

00-15-00 

paid    Sanmell  Mattocke  , 

00—  7-00 

p.aid    Rii'li''  Stanes  .... 

00—10-00 

paid   Rowland  Story  in  Lewtenant  Cook 

s  hand 

01   :00  :00 

paid    Ki  Wayte         .... 

02—00-00 

paid    Pliillip  Whorton 

02—00-00 

paid    Augustcn  Clement . 

1—  0—  0 

p.aid    Richard  Woodde  in  provision  [ 

'] 

01—  0—  0 

paid   John  Phillips  .... 

03—  0—  0 

paid   Tho  Emons     .... 

1—  0—  0 

paid   Thomas  Littell  thrc  dayes  worke 

00—10—  0 

Humidirey  Bradshaw  tlire  dayes  worke 

00—10—  0 

Joseph  Bonde  ten  shilings  by  Samell  Lemist 

00—10—  0 

George  Brome  a  bushel  wheate 

00-04-00 

paid   William  Paddy 

12—  0—  0 

paid    Henry  Kemble 

CD— 10—  0 

paid    Thomas  Makepeace 

01—00  .    0 

paid   Joshua  Hewes 

00—10—  0 

Ffrances  Smith 

00  .  10-00 

paid   Francis  Douse 

00—00—  0 

paid   John  Pierce     .... 

s4— 00     — 

paid    Simon  Eire      .... 

1  .  10.    0 

paid    Comfort  Starr 

01-00-00 

paid    Henry  Phillips 

05-00-00 

paid    Henry  Sliriinjiton  Come  wood 

10-00-00 

paid   John  Lowel     .         .         .    ■      . 

03-00     00 

paid    George  Munioy  three  pounds 

03-00-00 

paid   Jno.  Joyliffe    .... 

03  .  00  .  00 

paid    Amos  Richardson    . 

02  :  00  .  00 

pd   Edmond  Grenleif    . 

0—10—  0 

pd    Edward  Pcjrter 

1—  0—  0 

paid   Nicholas  Plnllips     . 

0—10—  0 

pd   Thomas  Ilarwood    . 

1—00—  0 

paid   Thomas  Brattle 

.-,—  0-0 

paid   Thomas  Baker  in  Iron  workes 

01—00—  0 

paid   John  Biggs  in  Shingle  or  worke 

002-00-00 

paid   Jo:   Marshall  in  shoes 

01—  0—  0 

paid    Henry  AUine     [         ] 

01-00-00 

paid   Hngh  Drury    . 

01—00       0 

paid    John  Collens  . 

1—  0—  0 

paid   Thomas  Scotto 

1—  0—  0 

paid    Nathanell  Thorn     . 

0-10—  0 

paid   John  Pears 

1—  0—  0 

paid    William  Reade 

00-10-00 

paid    Will.  Tay 

00—10-00 

paid   Jo".  Blacklach 

(11-00-00 

paid   John  (^lough    . 

00-10-00 

paid   Sam"  Davice   . 

00-05-00 

paid    Samuell  Cole  . 

02—00-00 

paid    Christopher  (iibson 

02-00-00 

paid    Robert  Nanncy 

02—00-00 

paid    Henry  Bridgham     . 

10-00-00 

[jaid   Thomas  AVaker 

12-10-00 

APPENDIX    R. 


138 


paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 

I,d 
paid 
paid 
pd  10s 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 


paid 

pd 

pd   5s 


paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 


Natliancdl  Itoynolls  .... 

Jolin  IIa\vl{im'.s  toljaco 

Artliur  Masson 

Ann  CarftT  10s        ..... 

.Tamos  Danis  l)_v  Tlio:  .luy  Gs  &  -Is  niore 
Daiiiol  Turin  ...... 

Thomas  Pitcli  ..... 

Edmund  .Jaclcliu  in  ,!,dass   or  worlvo   if  I    he 

contry  when  tlio  house  is  to  be  glassed 
William  (iibson        ..... 

.Jorcmy  Castine        ..... 

Edmund  .Faokson  by  Thomas  Fay  . 
Jlitdls  Townc  in  lether    .... 

William  Enyiish  —  in  shoes    . 
.Joseph  Ilowe  Twenty  Shillings 
Samuel  Norden  in  shoes 
Robert  Nash  in  worke     .... 

Mathew  Barnes  —  paid  1 — 9 — 3 
Thomas  Dewer        ..... 

William  Corser        ..... 

Bartluilonu'w  C'heever  30  s     . 

llenery  Messenger — jiaid 

Will.  Colliurn  in  [         ]  or  provision  paid  10 

Edward  Goodwin      ..... 

James  Johnson  in  his  Comodityes  . 

John    Newgat  |)romise   to    give    five   jiound 

[         ]  the  preveledg  of  our  [         ] 
Thomas  Bumsted  of  Boston  promise 
Natha.  Dunean        ..... 

Peter  Dunean  .  .  .  .         j  . 

.John  .lohn  Wiswall ..... 

Joseph  Wise    ...... 


u  the 


01—00  00 
01—00-00 
00—10—00 
00  —  10  .  00 
00—10—00 
01—00-00 
0)— 10-00 

01—00=00 
00—05—00 
01—90-00 
01-00-00 
00— 5s— 00 
02—00—00 
01—  0—  0 
00—10—  0 
01-  10—00 
1—10-00 
01—00—  0 

on— 10—  0 

01—10—  0 
0—10—  0 
3  .  00  00 
0_0H— 00 

02  :  00  :  00 

10-00-00 
1—00-00 

2 .  . . ,—, 

1—10-00 

02—10—  0 
2-00-00 


APPENDIX   B. 


VOTES   AND    ACTS   IN   REGARD   TO   REBUILDING    THE    TOWN 
HOUSE   AFTER   THE   FIRE   IN    1711. 


To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley  Esqr  Capt  General  &  Governour  in  Chief 
of  Her  Majestys  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  the  Honoble  the  Coun- 
cil and  the  Representatives  in  General  Court  .Vssembled. 
October  17.  1711. 

The  Humble  Representation  and  Addresse  of  the  Select  Men  of  the  Town 
of  Boston. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency 
and  Honours 

Amidst  the  Awfnll  Desolation  &  Consumption  of  Many  Dwellings  &  much 
of  the  Substance  of  this  Town  by  the  fiery  dispensation  of  Providence,     It  is 


134  OLD   SrATK    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 


a  particular  humbling  anil  Afflictive  Article  That  the  House  for  Publick  Mect- 
injrs  on  Civic  Occasions  for  the  I'rovini'C,  County  &Tovvn,  viz'  for  the  Meetinij 
of  the  (Jeiieral  Assembly,  tlie  Ilolilinj;  of  Councils,  &  Courts  of  Justice,  & 
Town  Meetings,  is  new  lying  Waste  ii>  its  Ashes. 

We  account  it  our  Duty  to  lay  the  Consideration  thereof  before  your  E.\- 
eellency  &  tliis  Hono''''  Assembly  anil  hnnilily  pray  your  Ailviee  &  i)irection 
for  the  Hestoring  &  Kebuilding  of  llie  Ho\ise  for  those  Publick  Uses  &  about 
the  place  where  to  set  the  same 

That  what  is  most  Honorable  for  the  Government  may  be  done  therein. 

And  Crane  leane  to  Subscribe 
Your  E-tcellcy  &  Honours 
Obedient  humble  Servants 
p  Order  and  in  the  Name  of  the  s''  Select  Men 

Joseph   ruoirr  Town  Clerk 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  October  22.  1711    Read  & 

Ordered  that  Samuel   .\ppleton  Josiah  Chajiin  Jn°  Clarke  James  Warren 

Esqrs,  Major  Thomas  Fitch  (,'apt  Simon  Davis  &  Capt.   Samuel  Phipps  be  a 

Committee  to  Joine  with  such  as  the  Honoble  Hoard  shall  appoint  to  Consider 

of  this  Addresse  &  Report  their  opinion  of  what  is  proper  to  he  done  therein. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence. 

John  Buhkill,  Speaker. 

Die  pred  :  In  Council 

Head  and  concurred.  .Vnd  Elisha  Hutchinson  Samuel  Sewall  Nathl 
Payne  i  Thomas  Noyes  Esqrs  Named  of  the  Committee  for  the  affair  afores", 
Elisha  llutcliinson  Esqr  to  Appoint  time  &  place 

IsA.\c  Addi.n(-,ton  Secretary. 

The  Above  Committee  Advise  that  tliere  be  a  House  built  in  or  Near  the 
place  where  the  Old  Town  House  Stooil  for  the  Uses  mentioned  in  the  Memo- 
rial as  convenient  as  may  be  without  incommoding  the  Street  '/'lie  breadth 
not  to  Ezceede  Ihiiii/  six  feet  the /eiii/th  So  as  to  be  Convenient  for  the  ends 
Mentioned  in  the  Addresse  That  a  ('omrnittee  he  Appointed  by  this  Court  to 
Take  Care  for  the  building  as  speedily  cV  prudently  as  may  be  The  Charge 
thereof  to  be  borne  the  one  half  by  the  Province,  the  other  half  by  the  Town 
of  Boston  cfe  County  of  Suffolk  in  equil  proportion.' 

Py  Order  of  Major  part  of  the  Committee 

Elisha  Hutchinson. 

Nov'  ',)"■  1711.      In  Council  Reail  &  sent  down 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  NoV  ",)"'.  1711. 
Read  &  Accepted  with  the  Amendments. 

Joiiv  BiTURiLi.  Speaker. 

Novembe''  10.  1711.      In  Council  Head  and  Concurred 

And  that  Elislia  Hutchinson  and  Penn  Townsend  Esq"  with  such  as  shall 
be  Named  by  the  Representatives  be  a  committee  for  the  affaair.  The  Com- 
mittee to  Advise  with  his  E.xCy  &  such  skillfull  Gentlemen  they  may  think 
fitte  to  be  consulted  with  about  the  Model  of  the  House 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence  Isaac  Addington  Secretary. 

'  A  copy  of  this  report  prei^ervfd  by  tlic  M.iBBacbusi*tts  ITi.storical  Society,  is  printed  in  the 
City  volume  on  llie  Dedication  of  tlie  present  City  Hall  iti  lS6.'i.  TluTe  is  on  it  this  memoran- 
dum :  *'  Note,  That  the  House  if*  for  rubliek  Meelinf^rt  ou  Civil  Occafious :  for  the  I'rovince, 
County  and  Town,  viz.  for  the  Meeting  of  the  Ucneral  .Assembly,  the  Holding  of  Councila 
and  Courts  of  Justice,  and  Town  meeting. 


APPENDIX    B.  135 


In  the  House  of  Represontatives 

Novemb'  10.  1711.  Head  &  Concurred  And  Addington  Davenport  Sam" 
Thaxter  Esqr''  &  Capt.  I'liipps  lie  Named  for  llie  offiee  with  libcrtie  to  the 
Town  of  Boston  to  Joine  Two  I'ersons  More 

John  Bukrill  Speaker 
Agreed  to  &  Consented  to  V>y  dos:    Dudley 
General  Courts  order  for 
Rebuilding  the  Town  House 
in  Boston  Novem'  1711 
Massaehusetts  Archives.     Book  113.  pp.  618  619. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives 

Nov' 9"'  1711. 

Resolved  That  tne  Sum  of  fforty  Pounds,  be  Allowed,  out  of  the  publick 
Treasury  to  M''  Benj":  Jolins,  for  the  use  this  Clourt  makes  of  his  House,  in  a 
year,  beginning  the  17"':  Ueto'  last' (if  they  improve  it  so  long)  Fifteen 
Pounds  thereof  to  be  now  drawn  out  of  the  Treasury,  the  Remainder  as  this 
Court  shall  order. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence.  John  Bdkkill  Speaker 


Nov'  lO'i'  1711. 


In   Council 

Read  and  concurred 

Is-^:   Addington  Sectr'y. 
Book  48  p.  426 

Court  Records,  p.  244.     Passed  in  House  of  Representatives,  reivd  and  con- 
curred. 
Nov.  7  1712. 

Ordered  that  it  be  an  Instruction  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  build  the 
Province  &  Court  House  tluit  they  fit  the  East  Chamber  for  the  Use  of  His 
Excellency  the  Governor  &  the  Hon'''"'  the  Council,  the  Middle  Chamber  for 
the  House,  the  West  Chamber  for  tlie  Sup'  &  Inf'  Courts. 

Ordered  that  there  be  but  two  otfices  below  stairs  in  the  Province  &  Court 
House  now  Building  in  Boston  one  for  the  Secretary  the  other  for  the  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  consented  to  J.  Dudley. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives. 

March  21  :   1711. 
Ordered  That  It  be  an  Instruction  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  Build  the 
Court  House  or  Exchange  in  BosKni,  That  It  be  not  more  than  One  Hundred 
&  twelve,  nor  lesse  than  One  Hundred  &  ten  ffeet  in  length. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence.  John  Burrill  Speaker 

In  Council. 
March  21.  1711.  p.  425. 

Read  and  Concurr'd 

Is*  Addington  Secry 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  upon  Saturday  the  23* 
of  August  1712. 

The  Committee  for  overseeing  the  building  of  the  Court  &  Town  House  in 
Boston  moving  for  a  furtlier  supply  of  money 

Advised  &  consented  That  a  Warrant  lie  made  out  to  the  Treasurer  to 
advance  &  pay  to  M'  William  Payne  of  the  said  Committee  and  deputed  their 
treasurer  the  further  sum  of  Five  hundred  pounds  over  and  above  the  Five 
hundred  pounds  already  drawn  for  at  twice  to  be  imployed  for  and  about  the 
said  Building  he  to  be  aecomptable  for  the  disposal  of  it  accordingly. 

Council  Records,  1708  to  1712,  page  598. 


136  OLD   STATE   HOUSK    KK-DEDICATION. 


At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  (Jhambcr  in  Boston  upon  Friday  the  15"' 
February   1711. 

The  Coniuiittce  for  the  rebuihlin;;  of  the  Town  &  (^ourt  House  in  Boston 
now  in  hand  with,  proposing  to  have  two  hundred  poun<ls  advanceci  towards 
the  s''  BuHdini;  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  M'  William  Payne  by  them 
deputed  a  Treasurer  for  payins;  of  the  workmen  &c. 

Pursuant  to  the  Grant  of  the  (Jeneral  Assembly,  Advised  &  consented 
Tliat  a  Warrant  be  made  out  to  the  Treasurer  to  advance  and  pay  the  sum  of 
Two  hundred  pounds  to  tlie  said  M''  Payne  for  tlie  use  aforesaid  upon  Ac- 
compt  accordingly.  Council  Records,  page  5'22. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  upon  Monday,  the 
18'h  of  February  1711. 

An  aecompt  of  Disbursements  by  the  Select  men  of  Boston  in  repairs  of 
the  late  Town  House  from  Se]itenih'' ."i"'  170!)  to  the  time  of  its  desolation, 
amounting  to  Eleven  pounds  two  sliillings  &  one  penny  presented  and 

Pursuant  to  the  Act  of  tiie  General  Assembly, 

Advised  &  considered  That  a  Warrant  bo  made  out  thereupon  to  the 
Treasurer  to  pay  Five  pounds  eleven  sliillings  &  one  penny,  4  being  one  half 
of  the  afores'*  Disburse  to  the  Town  Treasurer  of  Boston. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  upon  Monday  the 
29*  of  December  1712. 

Present     His  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley  Esq'  Gov'' 

Elisha  Hutchinson  W"  Hutcliinson  Andrew  Belcher  Peter  Sergeant  Esq"^ 
Penn  Townsend  Esq''*  Edw'  Bromfield  Esq''"  Isaac  Addington  Esq'. 

The  Committee  for  overseeing  the  building  of  the  Court  &  Town  House  in 
Boston  moveing  for  a  further  supply  of  money  for  that  occasion 

Pursuant  to  the  Grant  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Advised  &  consented  That  a  Warrant  be  made  out  to  the  Treasurer  to  ad- 
vance the  furtliersum  of  Fire  hundred  jiounds  (over  &  above  One  thousand 
I)ounds  already  issued  by  several  Draughts)  to  M''  William  Payne  of  the 
said  Committee  &  dejjuted  their  Treasurer  to  bo  employed  for  and  upon  the 
said  Building,  He  to  be  accomptable  for  the  disposal  of  it  accordingly. 

Council  Records,  page  G30. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston  upon  Monday  the  6"' 
of  April  1713. 

Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  pass'd  by  the  General  Assembly  at  their  Session  in 
March  last,  that  the  Treasu''  he  directed  to  supply  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  with  the  sum  of  Four  hundred  &  fifty  pounds  in  tlie  publico  bills  of 
credit  to  be  apj'lyed  towards  the  carrying  on  &  finishing  the  Town  House  or 
edifice  now  in  building  in  Boston,  as  part  of  the  Town's  proportion  of  that 
charge,  he  taking  good  &  sufficient  security  for  the  repaying  of  the  s"*  sum 
into  the  Treasury  again  on  or  before  the  twentyeth  day  of  February  next 

Advised  &  consented  That  a  Warrant  bo  made  otit  to  the  Treasurer  to  ad- 
vance &  supply  to  M''  Joseph  Prout  present  Treasurer  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
tlie  aforesaid  sum  of  Four  hundred  &  fifty  pounds  in  Bills  of  publick  credit 
for  the  use  aforesaid  taking  good  &  sufficient  security  for  the  repayment  of 
the  same  again  accordingly.  Council  Records,  1712  to  1718,  page  21. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Cliamber  in  Boston  upon  'Wednesdav 
April  29'"  1713. 

Present     His  Excellency  Joseph  Dudley  Esq^  Governour  &s. 

Pursuant  to  the  vote  of  the  General  Assembly  at  their  Session  in  October 
171 1  for  the  raising  of  ji  new  edifice  within  the  town  of  Boston  in  or  near  the 
])Iace  wliere  the  Town  House  sto(nl  before  the  desolation  thereof  by  fire  for 
Publick  Meetings  on  civil  occasions  for  the  use  of  the  J'rovinee  (\)unty  & 
Town  the  charge  thereof  to  be  borne  the  one  half  by  the  Province  the  other 
half  by  the  Town  of  Boston  &  county  of  Suffolk  in  equal  proportion. 


APPENDIX    B.  137 


AilvisoJ  &  consontod  that  a  Warrant  be  made  to  the  Treasurer  to  advance 
&  pay  M'  William  I'ayne  of  tlio  Committee  for  overseeing  the  Buildini^  of 
the  s'  Mouse  &  deputed  to  their  Treasurer  the  further  sum  of  Five  hundred 
I)ounds  over  &  above  what  has  lieen  already  advaneed  to  him  towards  that 
work,  he  to  be  aecomptable  for  the  disposal  of  it  aeeordingly. 

Council  Records,  1712  to  1718,  p.  32. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Cliamber  in  Boston  upon  Wednesday,  the 
22''of  .TiUy  1713. 

M'  William  I'ayno  of  the  Committee  for  overseeing  the  building;  of  the 
Court  &Town  House  in  Boston  &  deputed  their  Treasurer  moving  for  a  further 
supply  of  money  towards  defrcyingthe  charge  lliereof 

Advised  &  consented  That  a  Warrant  be  made  (uit  to  the  Treasurer  to  ad- 
vance &  pay  to  the  s''  William  I'ayne  of  tl\e  Committee  &  Treasurer  as  aforesaid 
the  further  sum  of  Five  hundred  pounds  for  that  service  to  be  emploved  on 
&  about  the  Building  he  to  be  aecomptable  for  the  disposal  of  it  accordingly. 

Ibid.,  page  C8. 

August  27,  1713.  Acconipt  presented  by  M'  W'"  Payne  of  expenses  in  the 
Council  chamber,  where  his  Excell">'  was  attended  by  the  Council  officers 
civil  &  military  and  other  Gent  and  on  the  Regiment  under  their  arms  attend- 
ing his  Excellency  on  the  24"'  of  August  currant  at  tlio  Publication  of  the 
Peace  between  Her  Majesty  &  the  French  King  amounting  to  Fourteen 
pounds  &  eight  shilling. 

Advised  &  consented  to  pay  the  a!).>ve  sum.  Ibid.,  p.  8(i. 

March  10,  1713. 

Council  Advised  &  consented  to  pay  Mr.  William  Payne  of  the  Committee 
for  overseeing  the  Building  of  tlie  Town  House  in  Boston  the  sum  of  seventy 
one  pounds  nine  shillings  and  live  pence  being  the  balance  remaining  due 
from  the  Province  to  tludr  part  of  the  cl\arge  for  building  s''  house  according 
to  the  Report  of  the  Committee  for  auditing  the  Aceompts  thereof  accepted 
by  the  General  Assembly. 

Ibid.,  page  160. 

Town  Records.     Nov  IG,  1711.  Vol.  2.,  p.  333. 

Voted.  A  Concurrence  with  the  proposalls  made  by  the  Gen"  Assembly 
Af  building  a  House  in  or  necr  the  ]ilaee  where  the  Old  Town  House  stood, 
for  the  uses  therein  Mentioned,  with  an  a.ddition  of  these  words  [and  all  other 
Town  affaires]  as  ]iart  of  the  uses  thereof. 

Voted.  That  Thomas  Brattle  Esci'  and  m'  William  Payn  be  the  persons 
nominated  &  Chosen  l)y  this  Town  to  joyn  w"'  the  committee  Raised  by  the 
Gen"  Court  to  maiiage  that  affair. 

Selectmen's  minutes.     Anno  1711:  Decem'i''  10"' p.  25. 

Voted.  That  Thomas  Br.atle  Esq'',  m'  Josiah  Tay,  m"'  Eliz"  Maccartv  & 
m''»  Eliz'  Powning  shall  be  taken  into  Consideration  in  order  to  Satisfaction 
for  their  Houses  w":''  were  Blown  up  in  order  to  Stop  the  progress  of  the  fire 
w"^''  hapencd  in  this  Town  y"  2 '  of  Octob''  Last. 

p.  2(1.     Also  James  Mecrs,  Martha  Gwin,  Sar.ah  Dynly  &  Rich''  Proctor, 
for  their  Houses  being  blown  up. 
Thoms  Brattle  Esq.  allowed  Thirty  Pounds. 
Isaiah  Tay  Thirty-five  Pounds 

Eliz^  Macearty  Si.xty"  " 

Eliz^  Poxvning  Thirty  five       " 

James  Meers  Twenty  five     " 

Martha  Gwin  Twenty  five      " 

Sarah  Dinely  Ten  " 

Richard  Proctor  Ten  " 


138  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 


(From  the  original,    in  the  possessioti  of   the    Massachusetts    Historical 

Society. ) 

"RELATING    TO    Y^     TOWN     HOUSE     RENTS.      READ    MAUril 

Iff''"    1711-12." 

"Whereas  the  Rents  reserved  to  the  Town  of  Boston  for  several  spiire 
Rooms  in,  under,  and  Adjoyiiing  to  the  late  Town  House  heside  all  rooms 
made  use  of  there  for  rulilick  Occasions,  did  according  to  the  Rates  they 
were  lett,  or  might  have  been  J/Ctt  at  amount  to  Eighty  pounds  l"'  annum. 

And  the  Great  and  Gen"  Court  of  .Assemhly  of  this  Province  haveing  lately 
directed.  That  there  be  a  House  built  in  or  neer  the  place  where  the  Old 
Town  House  stood,  for  Publick  meetings  on  Civill  Occasions,  For  Province 
County  and  Town,  Viz'.  For  the  Meeting  of  the  Gen"  Assembly,  The  hohhng 
of  CouneiUs  and  Courts  of  Justice  and  Town  Meetings,  the  Charge  thereof 
to  be  born  the  One  halfe  by  the  Province,  the  Other  halfe  by  the  Town  of 
Boston  and  Cininty  of  Suffolk  in  Equall  proportion,  unto  which  proposal  the 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  liave  Voted  their  Concurrance. 

And  since  there  is  prosjieet  of  as  great  if  not  greater  improvem'^  and  advan- 
tage by  such  spare  room  in  the  s<'  new  building  now  to  l)e  Erected,  it  may 
not  be"  unseasonable  for  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  now  to  make  Sutable 
provision  to  secure  that  jiriviledge  and  beiiefitt  to  them  selves  and  their  suc- 
cessors. 

And  altho  other  Arguments  might  be  of  weight  for  their  being  so  benefitted, 
Yet  rather  then  forego  and  lose  the  same,  May  it  not  be  advisealde  for  them 
to  agree  upon  bearing  some  Additional  Charge  in  y«s''  building  as  an  Ecjuiva- 
lent'Thatso  they  may  be  tliereby  Effectually  IntituUed  to  the  benefit  and 
improvement  of  all  such  rooms  and  spaices  in  under  and  adjoyning  to  the 
s'l  New  building  which  shall  be  conveniently  capable  of  being  inclosed  and 
Improved  for  distinct  uses,  and  otherwise  not  needfull  to  be  made  use  of  for 
those  afore  mentioned  intentions  proposed  by  the  Gen"  Court,  and  thereliy  to 
Lessen  the  Charge  of  the  Province,  Town  and  County  in  their  respective 
proportions  as  aforesaid.  The  which  additionall  charge,  together  with  the 
Charge  of  Ineloseing  and  fitting  of  shojijis  ic.  there,  may  (ifthe  town  sees 
meet)  to  very  good  adva.itage  to  be  defrayd  out  of  that  their  money  w^'  is  the 
Eifeets  of  Lands  sold  and  in  Equity  ought  to  be  so  layd  out  as  to  raise  and 
perpetuate  an  income  to  the  Town. 

And  in  case  sutable  Application  be  made  to  the  Gen"  Court  on  the  behalfe 
of  this  Town  relating  to  tlie  premisies,  under  the  consideration  of  their  E.y- 
cessive  growing  Charge  and  Expences,  &  tlieir  so  great  a  loss  by  the  Late  Fire 
&,  that  the  Late"  Town-House  w"^''  was  built  at  tlie  C  arge  of  y'  Inhabitants  of 
this  Town  was  for  neer  fifty  years  past  made  use  of  for  all  Publick  Occasions 
w"'out  any  other  Charge  to  the  Public  then  that  for  some  of  the  Later  years 
they  liave  born  part  of  y'-  Charge  of  y=  Kepaires. 

And  that  the  Town  of  Boston  being  the  true  and  proper  Owners  of  all  that 
Land  on  w"'^  the  said  New  building  is  now  to  be  erected.  It  is  presumed  that 
they  will  readily  agree  unto  so  just  and  reasonalile  a  proposal. 

Proposed  By  Joseph  Prout  Read  at  y"  bcgining  of  y"^  Town  meeting  y'  lO"" 
of  March  1711-12. 


APPENDIX    C.  lo!) 


APPEN^DIX   C. 


PAPERS     RELATING    TO     THE     REBUILDING     OF    THE     TOWN 
HOUSE    IN    1747. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Dec'  9,  1747. 

Ordered  that  the  Select  Men  of  the  Town  of  Boston  be  desired  to  take  care 
of  the  Materials  belonging  to  the  late  Court  House  which  are  preserved  from 
the  Flames. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 


In  Council  Dec'  9.  1747     Read  &  Concurr'd 
Consented  to 


T.  Hutchinson  Spkr. 


J.  WiLLAKD  Secy 


W.  Shirley 
Massachusetts  Archives,  Book  49.  p.  204 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Dec.  9.  1747. 

The  House  taking  into  further  consideration  the  awful  Providence  of  God 
this  Morning  in  the  destruction  of  the  Court  House  and  great  part  of  the 
publick  Records  by  Fire. 

Ordered  that  the  Speaker  Col"  Stoddard  Col"  Heath  Col°  Choate  M'  Frost 
Capt  Partridge  and  Col"  Otis  with  such  as  the  Hon'*'"  Board  shall  .Toyn,  be  a 
Committee  to  Consider  and  Report  what  is  necessary  to  be  done  by  the  Court 
at  this  Juncture. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  Hutchinson  Spkr 

In  Council  Dec'  9.  1747.     Read  &  Concurred, 
&  Josiah  Willard,  Sam'  Walley,  John  Cushing,  John  Quincy,  John  Chandler 
&  And*  Oliver  Esq'"  are  joined  in  y«  Affair 

J.    WiLLARD   Sec}'. 
Book  49.  p.  205. 
Committee  to  provide  boards  for 
the  Court  House  Walls 
Dec.  10  1747. 
Entered 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  Dec'.  11,  1747. 

Ordered  that  M'  Frost  with  such  as  the  Hon'"'*^  Board  sh.all  Joyne  be  directed 
to  Contract  for  sixty  thousand  feet  of  Boards  forty  thousand  of  them  Mer- 
chantable and  twenty  thousand  clear  for  the  Service  of  tlie  Province  and 

Also  three  thousand  feet  of  one  Inch  and  half  clear  Stuff  and  three  thousand 
feet  of  Stuff  for  Window  Frames 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  Hutchinson  Spkr. 

In  Council  December  11">  1747.  Read  and  Concurr'd  and  John  Hill  Esq' 
is  Joyned  in  the  Affair 

J.  WiLLAKD  Secry 
Book  49.  p.  206.  Consented  to  W.  Shirley. 


140  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 


In  the  House  of  Representatives  Dec''  11"'  1747 

Ordered  that  the  Select  Men  of  Hoston  be  desired  ami  iiniimvered  to  Secure 
the  Walls  of  the  late  Court  House  from  the  inconveniences  of  the  Weatlier  by 
Causing  the  same  to  be  covered  with  Boards  in  the  best  and  clieapest  manner 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  Hutchinson  Splir 
In  Council  DeC  11  1747     Kead  and  Concurr'd 

J.   WiLLAiti)  Secry. 

Booli  49.  p.  207. 
In  tlie  House  of  Representatives  Marcli  3,  1747 

Ordered  that  Col"  Hale  Col"  Otis  M'  Boardman  M'  Fore  and  M'  Hub- 
bard with  such  as  tlie  Hon'''  Board  shall  appoint  be  a  Committee  to  Consider 
and  Report  a  proper  place  in  the  Town  of  Boston  for  building  a  New  Court 
House 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  Hutchinson  Spkr. 
In  Council  March  3,  1747. 

Read  &  Coneur'd  And  Jacob  Wendell,  Samuel  Danforth,  Sam'  Watts,  John 
Chandler,  &  Ezekiel  Chever  Esq",  are  joined  in  the  Affair 

J.   WiLLARD  Secrv 

Book  4'J.  p.  r,\0 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  9  Mardi  1747 

Voted  that  the  late  Court  House  in  tlie  Town  of  Boston  be  Repaired  as  soon 
as  conveniently  may  be  &  that  one  lialf  the  Charge  thereof  l)e  borne  by  the 
Province  tlie  otlier  half  by  tlie  County  of  Suffolk  &  the  Town  of  Boston 

Sent  up  for  eoncurience 

T.  HcTcuiNsoN  Spkr. 
In  Council,  March  9,  1747;   Kead  &  Coneur'd, 

J.  WiLLAKD  Secry 
Consented  to 

W.   Shirley 

Book  49,  p.  211 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  March  11,  1747. 

Whereas  it  has  been  determined  by  this  Court  that  the  late  Court  House 
should  be  repaired,  and  that  one  half  the  Charge  sliould  be  born  by  the  Coun- 
ty of  Suffolk  and  the  Town  of  Boston,  but  tlie  proportion  between  the  Conn  y 
and  Town  is  not  .settled  by  said  vote. 

Resolved  that  one  quarter  jiart  of  the  Charge  of  repairing  s''  House  be  born 
by  the  said  County,  and  one  quarter  part  by  said  Town.  Also  voted  that  M' 
Speaker  M'  Hubbard  and  M'  .Vlleii  with  such  as  the  Hon''''"  Board  shall  Joyn 
be  a  Comm'=«  to  Purchase  and  Procure  proper  Materials  to  Effect  the  repair  of 
said  House  agreeable  to  the  vote  of  the  10"'  Curr'.  xVlso  to  Prepare  a  Plan  of 
the  Inside  Work  that  the  room  may  be  so  dispos'd  as  will  be  most  beneficial 
to  the  Province  County  and  Town.  And  that  they  Lay  the  same  before  this 
Court,  with  an  Estimate  of  the  Charge  at  their  next  sitting 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  IluT(!iiiN.soN  Spkr. 

In  Council;  Mar.  10.  1747;  Read  &  Coneur'd  &  Jacob  Wendell  &  Andrew 
Olliver  Esq'",  are  Joined  in  the  Affair 

,].    WiLi.Aui)  Secry. 
Consented  to, 

W.  .Smiii.KY 

Book  49.  212,  213. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  II  Ins'  to  procure  Materials  to  effect  the  Re- 
pairs of  the  Court  House  &  to  prepare  a  Plan  &  make  an  Estimate  of  the 
Charge,  have  divers  times  met  &  consulted  Workmen  thereupon :  and  beg 
leave  to  report 


APPENDIX    C.  141 


Th.it  m  obcdioncc  to  the  onlcr  of  the  lion'''"'  (iciieral  Court,  they  liavo 
taken  measures  for  prociirin;?  the  Lumber  needful  tor  this  purpose  &  have 
aetually  ai;reed  for  a  great  part  of  it. 

The  Coiuniittee  herewith  present  a  Plan  of  the  inside  Work,  which  they 
apprehend  will  be  the  most  commodious  &  best  answer  tlie  design  of  the 
liuilding;  and  upon  the  best  information  they  can  obtain  they  judge  that  the 
said  Repairs  will  amount  to  Eighteen  thousand  One  hundred  &  tour  Pounds 
old  ten"'  as  by  the  Estimate  herewith,  all  which  is  luiml)ly  submitted. 

J.\<;ou   Wendell  by  order 
March  31  :  1748 

In  Council  April  7.  1747.     Re.ad  &  sent  down. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  12"'  April  174S 

Read  and  Ordered  tliat  the  Committee  be  directed  to  Proceed  &  cause  the 
Court  House  to  be  rebuilt  agreeable  to  the  Plan  laid  before  the  Court  with 
this  Report. 

Sent  np  for  concurrence 

T.  Hi;tchinson  Spkr 
In  Council  April  1.'!,  1748;  Read  &  Concur'd 

.1.   Wii.LAKD  Socry. 
Consented  to 

W.   SniRLin-. 

Book  4!).  pp.  214,  21"). 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  April  8.  1848 

Voted  that  tlic  Treasurer  be  directed  to  Pay  into  the  hands  of  the  Com- 
mittee for  purcliasing  Materials  for  building  a  Court  House  the  Sum  of  One 
hundred  pounds  out  of  the  Appropriation  for  p.ayment  of  matters  &  things  for 
which  there  is  no  Establishment.     The  said  Comm^'«  to  be  accountable 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.  Hutchinson,  Spkr. 
In  Council  .Vpril  '.)"'.  1748.      Read  &  Concur'd 

J.   WiLLARD  Secry. 
Consented  to 

W     SnIULEY. 

Book  49.  p.  21fi 

In  the  House  of  Represent.atives  June  13  1748 

Voted  that  the  Committee  aiip"'*"  to  take  care  of  the  rebuilding  the  Court 
House  be  allowed  to  receive  out  of  the  iiubliek  Treasury  the  Sum  of  fifteen 
hundred  pounds  to  lOnaljle  them  to  Proceed  in  that  affair.  The  said  Com- 
mittee to  be  accountable. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T  Hutchinson  Spkr 
In  Council  June  15  1748     Read  and  Concurr'd 

J.   Wii.LARD  Secry. 
Consented  to 

AV.   Shirley. 

Book  49.  p.  228. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Nov  22,  1748. 

Ordered  that  the  Sum  of  fifteen  Hundred  pounds  be  ])aid  out  of  the  Treasury 
into  the  hands  of  the  Comra"''  app'"'  to  take  care  of  the  repairs  of  the  Town 
House  &c.     They  to  be  accountable 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T.   Hutchinson  Spkr. 
In  Council  Nov^  22.  1748     Read  &  Concur'd 

J.   WiLLARD  Secry. 
Consented  to 

W.    SlIIULEY. 

Book  49.  p.  238 


142  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

To  Tho  Hon'''"  •  Spencer  Phips  Esq' :  Leiv'  Governour  and  Commander  in 
cheif  in  and  over  his  Slajesty's  Provinee  of  tlic  Massaelmsetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land, To  tlie  Hon'  liis  Majesty's  Co\in<-il,  and  to  the  Honb'  the  House  of 
Kepresentatives  in  General  Court  Assenililed, 

The  Petition  of  Alii^ail  Halylmrton  of  Boston  Widow,  humbly  sheweth, 
That  in  the  year  1747  wlien  tlie  Court  House  was  consumed  liy  I*"ire,  his 
Majesty's  Council  took  a  Kootu  in  the  House  she  had  hired  of  Madam  Stod- 
dard, for  which  she  did  not  intend  to  trouble  your  Honour  and  this  Hon'''" 
Ccmrt  al)out,  but  on  her  Settling  her  Accounts  of  Kent  with  said  Mad'"  Stod- 
dard lately  she  had  obliged  her  to  pay  Thirty  four  Pounds  old  Tenor  for  the 
Kent  of  that  House,  when  she  had  no  other  Improvement  for  it  than  for  his 
Majesty's  Council  to  sit  in  as  aforesaid,  your  Memorialist  begs  leave  further  to 
represent,  tluit  at  the  same  Time  at  Col '  Pollard's  request  she  was  at  about 
Eight  Pounds  old  Tenor  costs  for  Forms  fur  the  Council  Use,  and  she  has 
had  no  Allowance  for  either  Forms,  or  Rents  therefore  she  prays  your  Honours 
to  take  tho  Premises  into  consideration  &  make  her  such  Allowance  as  yo\i  in 
your  great  Wisdom  shall  think  proper  and  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever 
pray 

AbIGAILL    IlALLVBL'ItTON 

Book  49.  p.  2G2. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  Jan>'  10  1740 

Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Prayer  of  tlie  Pet"''  be  so  far  granted  as  that  the 
Pef  be  allowed  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  the  Sum  of  three  pounds  in  full' 
for  the  Use  of  her  House  which  was  imiiroved  in  the  Service  of  the  Province 
when  the  late  Court  House  was  Consumed  by  fire. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

J.  DwiGHT  Spkr. 
In  Council  Jan.  10.  1749     Read  and  Concur'd 

J.   WiLLARD  Secry 
Consented  to 

S.  Phips. 

p.  263. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives.     Jan^.  26  1740 

Ordered  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  deliver  the  Committee  appointed 
to  take  care  of  the  repairs  [ofj  the  Townhouse  &c  the  Sum  of  One  thousand 
]>ounds  Lawful  Money  to  be  by  them  j)aid  to  the  workmen  &c  Who  have  per- 
form'd  that  Service 

The  said  Comm""  to  be  accountable  for  their  doings  to  this  Court. 
Sent  up  for  concurrence 

Tho^  IIunBARi>  Spkr  j??"o  Tempore 


In  Council  Jan.  26,  1749;  Read  &  Concur'd 
Consented  to 


J.  WiLi.ARii  Secry. 

S.  Phips 
Book  49,  p.  2G4. 


In  the  House  of  Representatives  March  31  1750 

Ordered  that  the  Committee  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  Repairs  of  the 
Court  House  be  directed  to  lay  their  Accounts  upon  the  Table  as  soon  as  may 
be 

Sent  up  for  concurrence 

Tuo"  HunnAUD,  Spkr^jro  Tempas. 

In  Council  March  31  1750 

Read  and  Concurred  Sa.ml  Holbrook  Dep'-''  Secry 

Consented  to 

S.  Phips.  p.  266. 

>  Ah  it  took  nbout  elDvcn  pouads  old  tiinor  to  make  one  pound  uterliug,  the  Council  probably 
paidlnfull.  — W.  U.  W. 


APPENDIX    C.  143 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  April  10,  1730 

Ordered  that  tlic  Suin  of  Sixty  Six  i)()iinils  thirteen  sliillings  and  four  ponee 
lie  allowed  &  ])''  out  of  the  puhlick  Treasury  to  the  Committee  for  repairing 
tlu'  Town  House  &u  in  eonsideration  of  their  time  &  trouble  in  taking  care  of 
said  Hepairs  &c.  to  be  equally  proportiond  among  them. 
Sent  up  for  concurrence 

T  IIuBBAiiD  Spkr  pro  Tempore 
In  Council  Ajiril  19.  17o0  Read  &  Concur'd 

Saml  Holbkook  Dy  Secry 
Consented  to 

S.  Piiips 
Book  iO.     p.  277. 

At  a  Great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  for  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Ens;land,  began  &held  at  Boston  upon  Wednesday 
thirtieth  day  of  May  17")0,  being  called  by  his  Majesty's  Writts. 

Friday  Octo''.  5.  1750 

In  the  House  of  Repres^".  Whereas  tlie  Charge  of  building  the  Town 
House  in  Boston  was  by  the  General  Court  ordered  to  be  paid,  one  half  by 
the  Province,  one  quarter  part  thereof  by  the  Town  of  Boston  &  the  other 
quarter  part  thereof  by  the  County  of  Sutlolk,  &  it  has  been  resolved  by  the 
Genera!  Court  that  the  said  Town  &  County  shall  ]iay  the  same  proportion  in 
the  late  Hepairs  thereof,  the  whole  Charge  of  wduch  Repairs  amounts  to 
thirty  seven  hundred  &  five  pound  eleven  shillings  &  four  pence  Lawful 
money ; 

Wherefore  Ordered  that  the  Town  of  Boston  aforesaid  pay  into  the 
Province  Treasury  Nine  hundred  twenty  six  pounds  seven  shillings  &  ten 
pence,  being  one  quarter  part  of  the  Charge  of  said  Repairs ;  And  the 
Province  Treasurer  is  hereliy  ordered  &  directed  to  proportion  the  Sum  of 
Nine  hundred  &  twenty  six  pounils  seven  shillings  i!'.o  ten  pence,  to  and  among 
the  Towns  in  the  County  of  Sutlolk,  according  to  the  Proportion  which  eacb 
Town  in  said  County  bore,  one  to  the  other,  in  the  last  Province  Tax;  And 
the  Treasurer  is  further  Ordered  to  give  out  his  Warrants  to  the  Assessors  of 
the  Town  of  Boston  for  the  year  1750  requiring  ihem  to  Assess  the  Sura  of 
Nine  hundred  twenty  six  i)Ounds  seven  shillings  &  ten  ])ence  on  the  Polls  & 
Estates  in  the  said  'town  of  Boston,  according  to  the  Direction  of  the  last 
Province  Ta.x  Act,  &  also  to  give  out  his  Warrants  to  the  Assessors  of  the 
several  Towns  in  said  County  of  Sufi'olk,  requiring  tliem  to  assess  on  Polls  & 
Estates  in  their  respective  Towns_  their  i)roi)ortional)le  Parts  of  the  said  sura 
of  Nine  hundred  &  twenty  six  pounds  seven  shillings  &  ten  pence  by  the 
same  Rule  aforesaid  :  And  the  said  Treasurer  &  the  Assessors  aforesaid,  and  the 
Collectors  and  Constables  to  whom  the  .\sscssment  for  the  Tax  aforesaid 
shall  be  committed,  be  &  hereby  are  fully  impowered  &  directed  to  act  in  their 
respective  offices  for  the  enforcing  the  Payuient  of  said  sums  into  the  Province 
Treasury  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  March  next,  in  all  respects,  as  by  the 
Law  of  this  province,  said  Officers  are  impowered  to  do  for  the  enforcing  the 
Payments  of  Province  Taxes. 

In  Council ;  Read  &  Non  Concur'd 

A  true  Copy  as  of  Record 

Attesf  Saml  Hoi.erook  I>  Secry. 
Book  49.  p    298. 

Dec.  9.  1747.     In  the  House  of  Representatives, 

Ordered  that  M''  Frost,  Cap'.  Partriilge  &  Col".  Otis  with  such  as  the 
Hon'>'<'.  Board  shall  appoint  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  after  &  secure  any 
Books  Records  &  Papers  that  may  have  been  preserved  from  the  Flames, 
which  cimsumed  the  Court  House  this  morning. 

In  Council  Read  &  Concur'd  ;  and  Josiah  Willard,  Samuel  Welles  &  Andrew 
Oliver  Esq™  are  joined  in  the  Affair.     Court  Records  p.  273,  274. 


144  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    KE-DEDICATIOX. 


Ill  the  House  of  Representatives.  Ordered  that  the  Select  men  of  Boston 
be  desired  &  iinpowered  to  secure  the  Walls  of  the  late  Court  House  from 
the  Ineonvpnien<'es  of  the  Weather  by  causing  tlieiii  t)  be  covered  witli 
Boards  in  tlie  best  &  clieafiest  manner.  In  Council,  Read  &  Concur'd.  t)on- 
sented  to  by  the  Goveruour. 

ji:  278 

March  2,  1747.      [i.e..  1747-48.] 

His  Excellency  sent  the  following  Message  to  the  House  by  the  Secretary, 
viz' 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives 

At  the  beginning  of  this  Session  I  reconuncnded  to  yo\i  the  making  Provi- 
sion for  a  Court  House,  I  was  in  hopes  the  lucouvenienee  you  suffer  in  your 
present  Situation  would  have  ])rompted  you  to  have  given  Dispatch  to  this 
Affair,  but  perceiving  it  is  still  delayed,  I  must  desire  you  to  resume  the  Con- 
sideration, lest  the  General  Court  shou'd  be  put  to  the  same  Difficulties  an- 
other Winter. 

p.  305. 

April  13,  174S.  Jacob  Wendell  Esq^  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
take  Care  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  Court  House  gave  in  the  following  Report, 
viz'. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  10"'  of  March  last  to  procure  Materials  to 
effect  the  Repairs  of  the  Court  House,  &  to  prepare  a  Plan,  &  make  an  Estimate 
of  the  Charge  have  divers  times  met  &  consulted  Work  men  there  upon  &  lieg 
Leave  to  Report,  — That  in  Obedience  to  the  Order  of  the  Hon'''^'.  General 
Court  they  have  taken  Measures  for  jirocuring  tlie  Luml)er  needful  for  this 
Purpose,  &  have  actually  agreed  for  a  great  part  of  it. 

The  Committee  herewith  present  a  Plan  of  the  Inside  Work  wliich  they 
apprehend  will  be  the  most  commodious,  &  best  answer  the  Design  of  the 
Building;  And  upon  the  best  Information  they  can  obtain  they  Judge  that 
the  said  Repairs  will  Amount  to  Eighteen  thousand,  one  hundred  &  four 
Pounds  old  Tenor,  as  by  the  Kstimate  herewith. 

March  31,  1748 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted 

J.\('on  Wendell 

p'  order 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.     Read  &  Ordered  tliat  the  Committee  be 
directed  to  proceed,  &  cause  the  flourt  House  to  be  rebuilt,  agreeable  to  the 
Plan  laid  before  the  Court  with  tliis  Report. 
In  ('ouneil ;   Read  &  Concur'il 

Consented  to  by  the  Governo''. 

Court  Records,  p.  3.10. 

April  23  1748.     In  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Voted  that  the  Treasurer  be  directed  to  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  Com- 
mittee for  rebuilding  the  late  Court  House,  the  Sum  of  Pive  Hundred  I'ouniN, 
such  sum  to  be  taken  of  the  Appropriation  where  there  is  no  Establishment; 
The  said  Comm"'"'.  to  be  Accomptable. 

In  Council;  Read  &  Concur'd.     Consented  to  liy  the  Governour. 

p.  345 

April  20,  1749.     In  the  House  of  Representatives.     Ordered  that  the  Sum 
of  Twelve  Hundred  &.  fifty  Pounds  be  paiil  out  of  the  Publiek  Treasury  to 
the  Committee  appointed  to  effect  the  Repairs  of  the  Court  House  in  Boston, 
the  said  Committee  to  be  accountable. 
In  Council ;  Read  &  Concur'd 

Consented  to  bv  the  Governour 

p.  477. 


APPENDIX     T>.  145 

April  25,  1751.     In  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

Whereas  the  Charge  of  buikling  the  Town  House  in  Boston  was  by  the 
General  Court  ordered  to  be  paid  one  half  by  tlie  Province,  one  Quarter  part 
thereof  by  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  the  other  Quarter  part  thereof  by  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  And  it  has  been  Resolved  by  tlio  (ieneral  Court  that  the 
said  Town  &  County  shall  pay  the  same  Proportion  in  the  late  Kepairs  thereof: 
Tlie  whole  Cliarge  of  wliieli  Kepairs  amounts  to  thirty  seven  hundred  five 
Pounds  eleven  shilliuf^s  &  four  penee  LawfuU  Money  :   Wherefore 

Ordered  that  the  Town  of  Boston  aforesaid  i:ay  into  the  Province  Treas- 
ury nine  hundred  twenty  six  Pounds  seven  shillintjs  &  ten  pence  beeins 
One  Quarter  part  of  the  Charge  of  Said  Kepairs,  And  that  the  County  of 
Suffolk  pay  into  the  Pi-ovince  Treasury  Nine  hundred  Twenty  six  Pounds 
seven  shillings  &  ten  pence  being  also  one  Quarter  part  of  the  Charge  of  said 
Repairs,  and  the  Province  Treasurer  is  hereby  Ordered  &  directed  to  propor- 
tion the  Sura  of  Nine  hundred  twenty  six  Pounds  seven  sliillings  &  ten  pence 
to  &  among  the  Towns  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  according  to  tlie  Proportion, 
which  each  Town  in  said  County  liears  one  to  anollicr  in  the  present  valuation. 

And  tbe  Treasurer  is  further  ordered  to  give  Ids  Warrants  to  the  Assessors 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  for  the  year  1750,  requiring  tliem  to  assess  the  Sum 
of  Nine  hundred  twenty  six  Pounds  eleven  sliillings  &  Ten  pence  on  the  Polls 
&  Estates  in  tbe  said  Town  of  Boston,  according  to  the  Direction  in  the  present 
Valuation,  and  also  to  give  out  his  Warrants  to  the  Assessors  of  tlie  several 
Towns  in  said  County  of  Suffolk,  requiring  them  to  assess  on  Polls  &  Estates 
in  their  respective  Towns  tlieir  proportionable  part  of  s<'  Sum  of  Nine  hun- 
dred twenty  six  Pounds  seven  shillings  &  ten  pence  by  the  same  Rule  afore- 
said. And  the  said  Treastirer  &  the  assessors  aforesaiil  &  the  Collectors  & 
Constables,  to  whom  the  Assessment  for  the  Tax  aforesaid  shall  be  committed 
be  &  hereby  are  fully  iinpowered  &  directed  to  act  in  their  respective  Offices, 
for  the  Enforcing  the  Payment  of  said  Sums  into  the  Province  Treasury  on  or 
before  the  last  day  of  March  next  in  all  Respects  as  by  the  Law  of  this 
Province  said  Officers  are  iinpowered  to  do  for  enforcing  the  Payment  of 
Province  Taxes. 

In  Council  Read  &  Concur'd  Consented  to  by  the  Lieu'  Govern^ 

page  337. 


APPENDIX  D. 


THE   LION   AND  THE   UNICORN. 
(See  ante,  p.  G5.) 

In  delivering  tbis  address,  reference  was  made  to  the  Lion  and 
Unicorn,  -whicli  adorned  the  eastern  front  of  the  building,  as 
"  Royal  Arms,"  and  the  words  were  retained,  though  not  techni- 
cally correct.  Correctly  speaking,  there  are  no  arms  shown  on  the 
building  ;  tlie  two  wooden  figures  being  only  the  supporters  of  a 
shield  whose  outline  only  is  indicated.     The  first  (juestion  to  con- 


14:0 


OLD    STATE    lIOrSK    IJE-DEUH  ATloX. 


sider  in  deciding  what  this  shii'ld  would  natnraHy  l)c,  is,  "  Does 
tiie  use  of  the  Lion  and  Unicorn,  as  supporters,  neccssarih'  imply 
the  presence  of  the  arms  of  Great  Britain,  or  of  the  ruling  fam- 
ily?" The  answer  must  he  in  the  negative.  For  example,  good 
authorities  state  that  the  Dukes  of  Northumberland  long  usc'd 
these  supporters.  The  fact  more  to  the  point  is,  that  they  were 
often  used  in  connection  with  the  arms  of  various  colonies.  In 
September,  1686,  King  James  II.  granted  to  the  New  England 
Colonies,  then  governed  bj'  Andros,  a  great  seal,  both  sides  of 
which  are  shown  in  the  annexed  engravings. 


In  the  following  j'ear  King  James  granted  a  seal  to  New  York, 
one  side  bearing  the  Royal  Arms,  witli  the  Garter  Crown  Support- 
ers and  Motto,  with  the  inscription,  "  Sigillum  Provineiae  Nostne 
Novi  Ehoraei,  etc.,  in  America."  (Historical  Mag.,  April,  1862.) 
It  is  believed  that  similar  grants  were  made  to  other  colonies,  es- 
pecially to  New  Hampshire. 

Under  the  Second  Charter  of  Massachusetts  a  change  w  as  neces- 
sary, as  that  provided  for  a  ''  publiqne  seal  to  bo  apixiiiitcd  by  the 


APPENDIX    D. 


147 


Crown."     The  following  engravings  show  tlio  two  ditlercut  fonus 
which  this  seal  ussuined  from  A.D.  1092  to  the  Revolution  :  — 


It  has  not  seemed  worth  while  to  \n\sh  this  inquiry  as  to  the 
exact  dates  of  the  first  and  last  use  of  each  form  ;  but  Mr.  'J'homas 
C.  Amorj',  in  a  careiui  essaj'  printed  in  tlie  Proceedings  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society  for  December,  18G7,  thinks  that 
the  second  form  came  into  use  about  September,  1728,  when  the 
Supplemental  Charter  of  George  I.  came  into  effect.  At  the  ac- 
cession of  George  III.  the  seal  was  changed  in  respect  to  his 
name,  but  not  otherwise.  Of  course  this  seal  ceased  to  be  used 
at  the  Revolution. 

It  will  be  seen,  however,  that  for  some  fifty  years  the  seal  of 
Massachusetts  was  a  shield  of  the  Royal  Arms,  with  the  Lion  and 
Unicorn  for  supporters,  and  an  inscri[)tion  denoting  that  they 
were  used  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  Province.  In  the  interesting 
painter's  bill,  printed  {ante,  p.  G4),  it  appears  that  within  the 
building  were  carved  representations  of  the  Colony  Arms  as  dis- 
tinct from  the  King's  Arms.  Although  no  specimen  is  now  known 
of  these  Colony  Arms,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  they  were  the 
same  as  those  on  the  Great  Seal. 


148  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

It  is,  therefore,  :it  least  as  prohulilo  that  these  supporters  would 
imply  the  Pro\inee  coat-of-arms,  as  the  Eoyal  Anns.  But  in 
reality  there  was  no  distinction  between  them,  and  it  would  seem 
to  be  an  uuuecessarj'  strotc-h  of  fancy  to  insist  upon  seeing  in 
these  inoffensive  wooden  images  a  reminder  of  British  rule,  rather 
thiin  of  the  glorious  Provincial  Goveriuneiit,  that  precursor  and 
creator  of  our  later  free  State. 

So  long  as  the  emblems  have  at  least  an  equal  claim  to  be 
viewed  as  Provincial  insignia,  and  especially  as  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  use  any  other  lu>raldic  ornaments  to  denote  that  period, 
there  seem  to  be  sound  grounds   for  us  to  retain  these  figures. 

As  to  their  removal  by  our  forefathers,  it  is  necessary  to  say 
only  that,  at  that  date,  such  an  act  had  a  meaning.  It  was  the 
visible  token  of  the  revolt  against  ro3\nlty,  and  was,  therefore, 
right  and  proper.  But  now  that  republicanism  is  established,  and 
the  continuance  of  royalty  even  in  Europe  is  so  problematical,  no 
one  can  fear  the  result  of  sh(nving  to  the  world  this  evidence  of 
our  former  condition.  The  loyalty  of  our  people  to  their  chosen 
form  of  government  does  not  depend  upon  any  falsification  of 
history.  The  Lion  and  the  Unicorn  were  the  property  of  our  an- 
cestors in  this  country,  and  we  have  the  right  to  use  them  in  any 
place  where  their  presence  is  instructive. 

The  date  of  the  removal  of  these  figures  has  not  been  definitely 
ascertained.  The  note  on  p.  !);5  m.akes  it  probable  that  they  did 
not  remain  later  than  July  IS,  177(> ;  but,  as  the  American  troops 
occupied  the  town  four  months  earlier,  the  change  may  have  taken 
place  before  this.  The  destruction  of  royalist  emblems  was  not 
so  extensive  as  the  newspaper  asserts,  since  the  King's  Arms  were 
removed  from  the  Council  Chamber  by  loyalists,  and  sent  to 
St.  John,  N.B.,  where  they  now  decorate  a  church;  and  the 
similar  carving  from  (he  Province  House  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  IMassachusetts  Historical  Society,  and  is,  temporarily, 
placed  on  exhibition  in  the  Old  State  House. 


APPENDIX    E.  149 


APPENDIX  E. 


FANEUIL    HALL. 

As  Faneuil  Hall  has  been  so  intimately  connected  with  the  his- 
tory of  Boston,  it  soems  proper  to  insert  a  short  account  of  the 
building,  and  especially  to  point  out  tlie  changes  which  it  has  ex- 
perienced, as  the  comparison  with  the  Old  State  House,  on  the 
point  of  genuineness,  will  not  be  to  the   discredit  of  the   latter. 

As  is  well-known,  Peter  Faneuil,  in  1710,  offered  to  build  and 
present  to  the  town  a  market-house.  On  July  17th,  at  a  town 
meeting,  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  offer  was  unanimously  passed, 
but  the  acceptance  was  carried  only  by  a  majority  of  seven  votes 
in  a  total  of  727,  so  wedded  were  our  ancestors  to  their  old  waj's 
of  marketing. 

Sept.  10,  1742,  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles,  who  was  employed  in 
building  the  market-house,  delivered  over  the  ke}'  to  the  select- 
men, and  on  the  13th  a  town  meeting  was  held.  On  motion  of 
John  Jeffries,  Esq.,  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  — 

"  Whereas,  information  was  given  to  this  town  at  their  meeting 
in  July,  1740,  that  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.,  had  been  generously 
pleased  to  offer  at  his  own  proper  cost  and  charge,  to  erect  and 
build  a  noble  and  complete  structure  or  edifice,  to  be  improved  for 
a  market,  for  the  sole  use,  benefit  and  advantage  of  the  Town, 
provided  the  town  of  Boston  would  pass  a  vote  for  that  purpose, 
and  lay  the  same  under  such  regulations  as  shall  be  thought  nec- 
essary, and  constantly  support  it  for  the  said  use. 

"  And,  whereas,  at  the  said  meeting  it  was  determined  to  accept 
of  the  offer  or  proposal  aforesaid  ;  and  also  \oted  that  the  select- 
men should  be  desired  to  wait  upon  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.,  and  to 


150  OLD    STATU    HOUSE    EE-DEDICATION. 

present  the  thanks  of  the  Town  to  him,  ;uul  also  1o  :ic(ninint  liiin 
that  the  town  have  by  their  vote  conic;  to  a  resolution  to  accept 
of  his  generous  offer  of  erecting  a  market-house  on  Dock  square, 
according  to  his  proposal. 

"  And,  whereas,  Peter  Faueuil,  Esq.,  has  in  pursuance  thereof,  at 
a  verj'  great  expense,  erected  a  noble  structure  far  exceeding  his 
first  proposal,  inasmuch  as  it  contains  not  only  a  large  and  suHi- 
cieut  accommodation  for  a  Market  place,  but  has  also  superadded 
a  spacious  aud  most  beautiful  Town  Hall  over  it,  and  several  other 
couveuient  rooms  which  may  prove  very  beneficial  to  the  town  for 
ofHces,  or  otherwise  ;  and  the  said  building  being  now  finished, 
has  delivered  possession  thereof  to  the  Selectmen,  for  the  use  of 
the  town.     It  is,  therefore, 

"  Voted,  that  the  towu  do  with  the  utmost  gratitude,  receive  and 
accept  this  most  generous  and  noble  benefaction,  for  the  uses  and 
intentions  the}'  are  designed  for ;  and  do  appoint  the  Hon.  Thomas 
Gushing,  Esq.,  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting,  the  Hon.  Adam 
Winthrop,  Edw.ard  Hutchinson,  Ezekiel  Lewis,  Samuel  Waldo, 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esquires  ;  the  Selectmen  aud  Representatives 
of  the  town  of  Boston,  with  the  Hon.  Jacob  Wendell,  James 
Bowdoiu,  Andrew  Oliver,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cunningham,  Peter 
Chardon,  aud  Charles  Apthorp,  Esquires,  to  wait  on  Peter  Fan- 
euil,  Esq.,  in  the  name  of  the  Town,  to  render  him  their  most 
hearty  thanks  for  so  bountiful  a  gift;  with  their  prayers  that 
this  and  other  expressions  of  his  liounty  and  charitj'  may  be 
abundantly  recompensed   witii  the  divine  blessing." 

"  It  was  then  voted  unanimously  that,  in  testimony  of  the  Town's 
gratitude  to  the  said  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.,  and  to  perpetuate  his 
memory,  the  Hall  over  the  market  plact  be  named  Faueuil  Ilall, 
to  be  at  all  times  hereafter  called  and  known  by  th.at  name. 

"  As  a  further  testimony  of  respect  it  w;is  voted  that  Mr.  Fan- 
euil's  picture  be  drawn  at  full  length  at  the  expense  of  the  town, 
aud  i)laced  iu  the   Hall,  and  the  Selectmen  were  charged   with  the 


Mil,'rm" 


m  I  i^iii 


Mm"'''^' 


i/Ki 


# 


APPENDIX    K.  151 

commission,  which  w:is  fKtcordingly  cxeeuted.  "  (Snow's  Hist,  of 
Boston,  p.  234.)  March  II,  1711,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  the 
Fancuil  arras,  elegantly  carved  and  gilt,  by  Moses  Deslion,  to  be 
fixed  in  the  Hall. 

On  Tuesday,  January  l;i,  17G1,  during  a  spell  of  extremely 
cold  weather,  a  Arc  broke  out  in  one  of  the  shops  opposite  the 
north  side  of  Faneuil  Hall,  and  consumed  the  row  of  wooden 
buildings  there.  The  fire  "  communicated  itself  to  that  stately' 
edifice,  Faneuil  Hall  IMarket,  the  whole  of  which  was  entirely  con- 
sumed, except  the  bricli  walls,  which  are  left  standing."  The 
"records  and  papers,  with  such  other  things  as  could  be  con- 
veniently removed,  were  mostly  saved."  The  first  meeting  at 
Faneuil  Hall  after  it  was  repaired  was  on  March  14,  17G3, 
when  James  Otis,  Jr.,  delivered  an  address.  Some  slight  alter- 
ations were  made  in  some  parts  of  the  work,  but  the  size  of 
the  building  remained  the  same.      (Snow's  Hist.,  p.  247.) 

The  two  views  liere  given,  one  from  the  Massachusetts  Maga- 
zine for  March,  1789,  and  the  other,  from  Snow's  History  in  1826, 
show  tlie  Revolutionary  building  and  the  present  one.  The  white 
lines  in  Snow's  view  indicate  the  proportion  of  old  material  in  the 
existing  Hal!.  In  1805  the  enlargement  was  made  doubling  the 
width  of  the  building  and  adding  a  third  story.  The  first  Hall 
was  calculated  to  hold  one  thousand  persons,  but,  as  we  have 
noted  before,  whenever  a  large  town  meeting  was  held  it  adjourned 
to  the  Old  South  Church  for  additional  room. 


152  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    HE-DEDICATION. 


APPENDIX   F. 


THE   COURT   HOUSE,   OR   OLD   CITY   HALL. 

But  little  has  been  printed  in  regard  to  the  building  on  School 
street  occupied  as  the  First  City  Hall  from  1822  to  1830,  and 
again  from  1840  to  1862.  The  handsome  volume,  descriptive  of 
our  new  City  Hall,  printed  in  18GG,  begins  its  record  only  with  the 
measures  which,  in  1838,  led  to  the  second  occupancy  of  the  old 
building  upon  the  removal,  in  1840,  from  the  Old  State  House. 
In  fact,  on  p.  44  of  that  document,  it  is  said  that  Faneuil  Hall 
was  the  first  City  Hall,  and  was  so  used  from  1822  to  1830.  This 
is  clcarl3'  incorrect,  as  the  following  statements  will  show  ;  for  we 
must  regard  that  building  as  the  City  Hall,  in  which  the  Mayor 
and  Alderman  and  the  Common  Council  held  their  meetings, 
and  where  the  greater  part  of  the  departments  had  their  offices. 

The  earliest  view  of  this  Court  House  is  sound  in  the  "  Polyan- 
thos  "  for  September,  1813,  which  is  licre  copied. 

In  Snow's  History  of  Boston,  printed  in  1826,  he  describes  the 
stone  Court  House,  in  Court  square,  as  built  iu  1810.  "  The 
lower  story  of  the  centre  is  improved  by  the  Registrar  of  Deeds 
and  Clerk  of  the  C.  C.  P.  ;  the  second  story  by  the  County 
Courts  ;  aud  the  upper  by  the  Common  Council  of  the  city.  The 
Mayor  and  Aldermen's  room  is  in  the  upper  story  of  the  western 
wing ;  under  that  are  tlie  offices  of  tlie  Auditor  and  City  Mar- 
shal ;  and  on  the  lower  floor  the  Probate  Office.  In  the  eastern 
wing  are  the  offices  of  tlie  clerk  of  tlie  S.  J.  Court-rooms,  for 
the  judges,  and  for  the  juries,  and  one  occupied  by  the  Law 
Library." 


APPENDIX    F.  153 

In  Boweu's  Picture  of  Boston,  printed  in  1829,  is  a  description 
of  the  offices.  "The  Mayor  and  Aldermen's  room  is  a  plain  but 
convenient  apartment  in  the  third  stor3^  of  the  west  wing  of  the 
Stone  Court  House,  Court  Square  in  School  street.  A  railing 
runs  across  the  middle,  dividing  it  into  two  divisions,  the  south, 
side  being  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors,  who  are  provided 
with  settees  ;  the  north  side  has  an  elevated  floor,  which  is  car- 
peted. The  cliairs  and  tables  are  so  arranged  as  to  make  half  a 
circle,  the  Mayor's  chair  in  the  centre  and  raised  above  the  others." 
"  The  Common  Council  hold  their  sessions  in  the  same  building 
with  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  The  Council  room  is  in  tiie  third 
story,  in  the  centre  of  the  building.  The  President's  seat  is 
elevated  at  one  side  of  the  room,  and  the  seats  of  the  members 
are  ver^'  conveniently  arranged,  having  a  gradual  ascent  from 
front  to  rear." 

The  City  Clerk's  office  was  in  the  Aldermen's  room  ;  the  Clerk 
of  the  Common  Council  had  an  office  in  the  brick  building  oppo- 
site the  south-west  door  of  tlic  Court  House  ;  the  Assessors  were 
at  Faneuil  Hall,  the  Treasurer  in  the  room  at  the  westerly  end  of 
the  Old  State  House  ;  the  Auditor  at  the  west  end  of  the  Court 
House  ;  the  City  Marshall,  the  Health  Commissioners,  and  the 
Superintendent  of  Burying  Grounds,  were  in  the  west  end  of  the 
Court  House,  north  side.  All  these  were  so  located  by  an  ordi- 
nance dated  Dec.  20,    1824. 

Mayor  Quincy,  in  his  inaugural  address,  in  January,  1827, 
dwelt  upon  tlie  importance  of  bringing  all  these  departments  of 
tlie  City  Government  under  one  roof.  His  plan  was  to  erect  a 
building  on  the  west  end  of  Faneuil  Hall,  giving  up  the  Council 
Chamber  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  building  a  new 
chamber  in  the  Stone  Court  House,  for  the  United  States  Court. 
He  also  proposed  to  sell  the  land  in  Court  square  formerly  cov- 
ered by  the  Jail. 


154  OLD   STATE  HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

As  wc  know,  this  plan  did  not  prove  acceptable  ;  and,  iu  1830, 
the  city  (converted  the  Old  State  House  into  a  Citj'  Hall. 

As  there  have  been  so  many  changes  in  and  about  Court  square, 
it  is  worth  while  to  explain  them.  From  a  very  early  date  the 
Jail  was  placed  in  the  centre  of  Court  square.  Penibertoii,  in 
1794,  writes  :  ■'  The  new  Stone  Jail  is  a  large,  commodious  building, 
and  stands  on  the  ground  where  formerly  was  a  wooden  building 
called  the  Debtor's  Jail,  a  little  back  from  Court  (formerly  Queen) 
street.  The  inside  was  set  on  fire  by  some  prisoners  confined  in 
it,  the  30th  June,  1709.  It  has  since  been  repaired,  is  three 
stories  in  height,  and  is  divided  into  three  parts  with  brick  par- 
titions, cased  with  plank  and  iron.  The  upper  story  is  appro- 
priated to  debtors.  The  entrance  to  the  Jail  is  by  three  strong 
doors  in  front. 

"  The  new  Court  House  is  built  on  the  front  of  the  said  street, 
partly  on  the  ground  where  the  old  stone  jail  stood,  which  made 
an  uncouth  appearance  and  was  taken  down.  It  is  a  large,  hand- 
some building  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and  has  on  the  roof  an 
octagon  cupola.  The  lower  floor  is  used  partly  for  walking,  and 
has  on  it  the  probate  office  and  the  oflice  of  the  county  registrar 
of  deeds.  In  the  second  story,  the  floor  of  which  is  supported  liy 
pillars  of  the  Tuscan  order,  are  held  the  courts  of  law.  In  the 
second  and  third  stories  are  convenient  rooms  for  the  grand  and 
petit  jurors,  and  for  offices." 

The  annexed  plans  show  the  location  of  the  liuilding  iu  1800 
and  1814,  and  a  view,  of  the  east  end  of  this  Court  House  is 
found  in  Salmon's  picture,  in  1829,  from  the  top  of  Pemberton 
Hill.      (See  ante,  p.  110.) 

Shaw,  in  1817,  repeats  those  descriptions  substantially,  adding 
that  the  building  was  of  brick,  that  the  cupola  contained  a  bell, 
and  that  on  the  lower  floor  were  the  offices  of  the  U.  S.  District 
Marshal,  Sherifl'  of  the  County,    Clerk  of  the    Municipal  Court, 


o 


APPENDIX    F.  155 

the  Provident  Institution  or  Savings-Bank,  and  several  private 
offices.  In  tlie  seoond  story  were  held  the  Circuit  and  District 
Courts  of  the  U.  S.,  and  there  was  the  office  of  the  Dis- 
trict Clerk.  "This  building,  before  the  erection  of  the  new 
Court  House,  was  used  by  all  the  Courts  of  Law  held  in  the 
County." 

He  adds  that  the  jail  is  00  feet  long  and  23  feet  broad,  and  is 
four  stories  high. 

The  Old  county  Court  House  had  then  been  given  up  to 
other  uses,  and  tlie  explanation  is,  that  by  Chap.  73  of  Acts  of 
1809  (dated  March  1,  1810),  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  Sufiblk  were  empowered  to  purchase  any  lauds 
between  Court  street  and  School  street,  in  Boston,  for  erecting  a 
Court  House  for  said  county,  and  making  proper  avenues  to  and 
around  the  same,  to  sell  or  exchange  any  land  there  belonging  to 
the  county  and  to  borrow  money  and  build  a  Court  House. 

Undoubtedly  the  work  was  promptly  performed.  Shaw  thus 
describes  it :  "  The  New  Court  House  is  140  feet  long,  consists  of 
an  octagon  centre  55  feet  wide,  two  stories,  two  wings  of  three 
stories,  2G  by  40  feet,  connected  by  the  entrance  and  passages  to 
the  centre  ;  contains  two  court-rooms  in  the  centre,  one  smaller  in 
one  wing.  Probate  Office,  Register  of  Deeds,  Clerks  of  Supreme 
and  Common  Pleas  Court,  rooms  for  Judges  and  Law  Library, 
rooms  for  Grand  and  Petit  Juries.  The  cost  of  tliis  building  was 
$93,817.10." 

Snow,  in  his  admirable  history  of  Boston,  in  1824,  gives  the 
annexed  view  of  the  Stone  Court  House,  which  he  tried  to  per- 
suade the  public  to  call  "  Johnson  Hall  "  He  writes  :  "The  lower 
story  of  the  centre  is  improved  by  the  Register  of  Deeds  and 
Cleik  of  the  C.  C.  P.  ;  the  second  story  bj'  the  County  Courts,  and 
the  upper  by  the  Common  Council  of  the  city.  The  mayor  and 
aldermen's  room  is  in  the  upper  story  of  the  west  wing;  under 


150  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

that  are  the  offices  of  the  Aiulitoi-  and  City  Marshal,  and  on  tlic 
lower  floor  the  Probate  Office.  In  the  eastern  wing  are  the  offices 
of  the  Clerlv  of  the  S.  J.  court  rooms,  for  the  judges  and  for  the 
juries,  aud  one  occupied  by  the  Law  Librar3-." 

As  already  noted,  the  Old  State  House  was  occupied  as  a  City 
Hall,  September  17,  18;30,  and  so  roiniined  for  ten  years. 

In  1839  the  City  Council  appropriated  $60,000  for  the  purchase 
of  land  in  Court  square  and  on  Scliool  street,  aud  S500  as  a 
premium  for  a  plan  for  a  new  City  Hall.  City  Doc.  No.  9,  of 
1840,  reports  that  they  had  plans  from  Asher  Benjamin,  Richard 
Bond,  and  G.  J.  V.  Bryant,  costing  from  $28,000  to  $24,000,  for 
alterations  of  the  County  Court  House  for  this  purpose ;  one 
from  Cornelius  Coolidge  for  $25,000  ;  one  for  $12,000  from  a  per- 
son unamed,  and  one  from  Charles  Roath,  for  inside  work,  at 
$3,400.  These  plans,  or  some  of  about  that  date,  are  still  pre- 
served in  the  City  Architect's  office.  We  annex  a  view  copied 
from  the  "Sketches  of  Boston,"  printed  iu  1851.  An  addition 
has  since  been  built  on  the  west  end.' 

None  of  these  plans  were  adopted,  but  after  a  long  dispute 
between  the  branches,  it  was  decided,  July  27,  1840,  to  fit  up  the 
old  Court  House.  "According  to  a  third  plan,  keeping  the  en- 
trances as  they  now  are,  the  present  stairs  miglit  l>e  taken  away, 
and  new  stairs  carried  up  in  the  rear  of  the  main  part  of  the 
building,  conforming  precisely  iu  the  secoud  aud  third  stories,  in 
all  the  arrangements  to  the  plan  heretofore  submitted  to  the  Coun- 

'  To  trace  the  history -of  the  Court  House  on  Court  street,  it  should  be 
stated  that,  according  to  Snow,  "  the  County  Gaol,  in  Levcrett  street,  and  the 
House  of  Correction  connected  witli  it,  and  the  Municip.il  Court  House,  all 
of  which  are  liandsome,  stone  buildings,  were  commenced  several  years 
since,  but  were  not  finished  and  occupied  till  the  year  1822.  In  1823  the 
old  gaol  was  taken  down,  and  its  materials  were  partly  used  in  constructing 
the  Gun-House  and  Ward-Room  on  Thatcher  street.  " 


'iS^^a' 


APPENDIX    F.  157 

oil  by  Mr.  Preston,"  and  costing  $9,475.  To  this  sum  was  to  be 
added  $3,000  for  an  iron  fence,  and  grading  tlie  land  in  front; 
$1,000  for  gas  fixtures,  and  $1,000  for  heating  apparatus. 

On  March  18,.  1841,  a  eonveiition  of  botli  branches  was  held 
to  dedicate  the  new  City  Hall,  and  the  Mayor,  .Jonathan  Chap- 
man, delivered  an  address.  However  convenient  the  Hall  may 
have  proved,  there  seems  to  have  been  very  little  pride  evinced  in 
its  external  appearance.  At  least,  while  nearly  every  other  large 
building  in  the  city  has  been  made  familiar  to  us  by  numerous  en- 
gravings, probably  the  only  artistic  picture  of  this  Hall  during  its 
second  civic  occupancy,  is  the  one  engraved  by  a  German,  F. 
Goth,  in  1856,  and  published  in  Munich.  This  is  only  one  of  a 
series  of  views  illustrative  of  Boston  on  one  large  plate.  A  re- 
production is  annexed.  A  small  wood-cut  of  the  City  Hall,  is, 
however,  given  on  p.  21)  of  a  guide-book  pu))lished  in  18G5, 
entitled,  "  Boston  Sights,  "  edited  by  R.  L.  Midgley.  A  view 
also  appears  on  the  title-page  of  the  Boston  Directory  from 
1853  to  1859. 

It  is  well-reracmbered  that  the  increase  in  the  city's  affairs  soon 
rendered  this  Citj'  Hall  too  contracted  for  usefulness,  and  that 
measures  were  taken  for  constructing  a  new  building.  A  com- 
mittee, in  18G2,  submitted  a  plan,  at  an  estimated  cost  of  $160,000, 
and  the  corner-stone  was  laid  Dec.  22,  1862.  The  size  of  the 
new  building  allowed  the  foundation  and  front  wall  to  be  erected, 
and  prepared  for  the  corner-stone,  while  the  City  Government 
occupied  the  old  City  Hall.  The  last  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Al- 
dermen therein  was  on  January  7,  1863  ;  and  on  January  12, 
the  Board  met  at  the  Mechanics'  Hall,  on  the  corner  of  Bedford 
and  Chauucy  streets,  where  rooms  had  been  hired  for  the  City 
Council,  and  some  departments.  Here  then  was  the  actual  City 
Hall  for  more  than  eighteen  months,  the  last  session  of  the 
Board   there  being   on  Saturday,  September    16,   1865.     On  the 


158  OLD    STATE    HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

Monday  following,  a  convention  of  both  branches  was  held  at  the 
New  City  Hall  to  dedicate  it,  and  that  building  has  since  remained 
in  use,  although  no  longer  capable  of  housing  all  the  departments 
of  tlie  government  under  its  roof. 

The  estimated  cost  was  $160,000,  though  no  one  expected  that 
the  expense  would  be  covered  by  that  sum.  Some  ciianges  were 
made  in  the  plan,  Imt  the  great  apparent  increase  in  the  price 
paid  was  caused  by  the  premium  on  gold.  Accordingly,  the  com- 
mittee in  charge  felt  authorized  to  claim  that  the  total  expense  of 
8505,191.42  as  paid,  was  not  owing  to  any  extravagance  or  in- 
crease of  plans.  The  exterior  of  the  building  lias  proved  entirely 
satisfactory,  and  engraved  views  are  numerous. 

The  prediction  may  be  hazarded  that  some  further  change  in 
City  Hall,  by  the  addition  of  tlu^  Court  House  building  or  other- 
wise, will  be  made  in  the  near  future. 


APPENDIX   G. 


City  Hall,  Boston,  Oct.  1,  1882. 
Alderman   William   Woolley,   Chairman    of  the    Committee   in 
charge  of  the  liestoration  of  the  Old  State  House:  — 

Dear  Sir, — In  the  reconstruction  and  restoration  of  any 
structure  it  will  be  understood  that  the  result  must  largely 
depend  upon  the  knowledge  at  hand  of  its  original  character. 

In  the  case  of  the  Old  State  House,  to  ascertain  this  was  not 
altogether  an  easy  task,  l>ul  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  AV.  H.  Whit- 
more,  an  active  member  of  your  committee,  and  who  was  en- 
tirely   familiar  with  its  early  history,  much  of  the  dilliculty  was 


APPENDIX    G.  159 

overcome  in  the  start.  The  following  is  an  authentic  statement 
of  the  evidences  which  were  found  of  the  original  condition  of  the 
old  building,  and  which  have  determined  the  work  of  restora- 
tion. 

In  order  to  ascertain  if  there  were  any  hidden  traces  left  of 
the  original  interior,  a  careful  carpenter  was  first  employed  to 
make  a  thorough  examination ;  this  work  was  carried  on  for 
more  than  four  weeks,  under  the  immediate  observation  of  Mr. 
Whitmore  and  myself;  several  important  indications  were  thus 
brought  to  light ;  in  fact,  the  exact  location  of  all  the  original 
partitions  of  the  second  storj'  was  determined :  upon  removing 
the  plastering,  the  outline  of  the  original  partition  caps  was 
found,  which  had  been  cut  in  between  the  old  furrings.  Also, 
corresponding  indications  were  found  upon  the  old  under-floors, 
which,  by  the  wa^',  had  been  covered  at  different  periods  by  two, 
and  in  some  places  by  three,  upper  or  finish-floors.  These  in- 
dications upon  the  original  under-floors  also  gave  me  the  posi- 
tion of  all  the  doors,  their  thresholds  being  clearly  defined  by 
openings  directly  through  the  under  floor,  as  in  the  case  of 
thresholds    in    old    buildings    of    that    date. 

But  the  most  important  development  of  all  was  the  opening 
up  of  the  original  framing  in  the  second,  floor  around  the 
circular  staircase,  as  represented  in  the  accompanying  diagram. 
There  was  one  mysterious  circumstance  in  connection  with 
this  framing,  —  the  centre  of  the  circular  gallery  of  the 
staircase  was  found  to  be  one  foot  from  the  centre  of  the 
circular  hall  surrounding  it,  when  they  would  both  be  natu- 
rally drawn  from  one  centre.  This  was  explained,  however,  in 
good  time,  by  the  fortunate  discovery  of  tlie  original  plans  of 
the  building,  they  having  liccn  found  bj-  Mr.  Whitmore  at  Cin- 
cinnati ;  the  reason  of  tlie  difference  in  the  two  centres  was  at 
once  apparent,  it  having  been  purposely  arranged  to  equalize  a 


IGO  OLD   STATIC   HOUSE    RK-DEDICATION. 

certain    amount    of   room    iraiiu'd    throngh    a  peculiMr    manner  of 
terminating   the  staircase  on  the  second-floor  landing. 

The  phm  of  the  interior  having  been  determined,  and  the 
nature  of  the  accommodations,  next  came  the  treatment  of  finish, 
and  the  character  of  tlie  architecture.  Slietches  and  a  careful 
study  were  at  once  made  of  all  the  Iniildings  erected  in  this 
vieiuitv,  of  about  the  date  of  the  Old  State  House;  among  them, 
several  dwellings  at  the  North  End,  Christ  Church,  Hancock 
House,  King's  Chapel,  Royall  House  at  Medford,  the  Gov. 
Shirlc}-  House  at  Roxbury,  se\'eral  public  and  piivate  buildings 
at  Salem,  Newburyport,  and  Portsmouth  were  carefully  exam- 
ined. With  these  studies  and  the  several  wood-cuts  and  litho- 
graphic plates  of  the  old  building  itself,  dating  from  the  days  of 
Paul  Revere  down  (he  having  made  the  first  engraving) ,  together 
with  existing  pieces  of  wood  mouldings  found  about  the  interior, 
such  as  pieces  of  cornices,  bases  of  the  pilasters,  pieces  of  old 
wood  mantles,  and  wood  wainscoting  connecting  with  the  same, 
besides  tlie  position  of  all  the  old  wood  grounds  upon  the  brick 
walls,  giving  the  heights  of  the  cornices,  wainscoting,  etc.,  a 
very  definite  idea  was  formed  of  the  treatment  of  the  Interior 
wood  finish  ;  also  much  of  the  u'.'w  work  that  was  required  about 
the  exterior,  including  the  balcony  at  the  State-street  end  and 
the  restoration  of  the  Washinuton-strcet  d(jor. 

In  restoring  the  windows  of  the  building  the  number  of  panes 
of  glass  in  each  window  was  determined  by  an  oil  painting,  made 
about  A.D.  1805,  which  is  in  tlie  possession  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society.'  The  nuiiitins  of  the  sashes  are  diflfcrent 
from  those  found  in  any  other  building  of  that  period,  and  are 
a  reproduction  from  the  window  of  the  second  story,  opening 
upon  the  balcony  at  the  State-street  end.     Although  the  use  of 

'  The  engraving  of  this  picture  will  be  found  ante,  p.  101. 


APPENDIX    G.  IGl 

this  peculiar  thin  mimtin  excited  a  great  deal  of  eriticism  in 
the  public  press,  it  was  not  decided  upon  fiually,  until  after 
a  careful  examination  of  this  window  liad  been  made  by  many 
leading  architects  and  builders,  especially  those  who  had  given 
attention  to  this  colonial  style,  and  it  had  been  deflnitely  deter- 
mined that  this  was  the  original  window.  In  fact,  but  little 
doubt  of  its  original  character  could  exist,  since  the  frame  of 
this  window,  like  all  the  other  windows  about  the  building, 
was  built  solid  into  the  wmHs  and  extending  back  of  the  same, 
on  the  two  sides  and  across  the  top,  at  least  four  inches  ;  the 
window  and  side  lights  were  glazed  with  crown  glass,  which 
has  not  been  in  use  for  the  last  eighty  years ;  the  hinges  were 
of  wrought  iron,  secured  with  wrought  nails,  and  the  fastening 
was  by  an  old  brass  latch  with  egg-shaped  handles  each 
side. 

The  work  of  restoring  the  exterior  was  not  of  a  difficult 
nature,  the  brick  moulded  belt  courses  were  easily  continued 
where  they  had  been  removed,  and  the  walls  of  the  first  story 
of  the  Washington  aad  State  street  ends,  which  had  been  taken 
away  for  moderu  irai)rovcmeut,  to  fit  the  building  for  business 
purposes,  were  easily  replaced  with  window  openings  like  those 
above. 

Tlie  main  cornice  was  fouud  in  a  good  state  of  preservation, 
as  also  were  the  ten  trusses  supporting  the  roof,  which,  of 
course,  detcrmiued  the  original  outline  ;  these  trusses  were  framed 
with  a  king  post,  and  were  constructed  of  oak-hevvu  timber,  the 
principal  rafters  being  in  double  sections,  the  under  section  of 
a  natural  curve  ;  the  tie-beams  of  the  trusses  were  about  four- 
teen inches  square  and  formed  the  sleepers  or  girders  for  the 
support  of  the  third  floor. 

All  of  the  roof  above  the  cornice  to  the  height  of  eight  feet, 
between  the    trusses,  had  been    removed  ;  but  aljove  that  height, 


162  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

forming  the  apex,  the  origiual  hoai'ding  and  jack -rafters  were 
found  in  good  condition. 

New  dormer  windows  were  placed  between  the  trusses,  the 
number,  position,  and  proportions  being  ascertained  from  the 
several  wood-cuts ;  also  the  five  chimneys  on  each  side,  which 
were  found  to  Ije  of  modern  construction,   were  removed. 

The  tower  was  discovered  in  a  neglected  and  very  unsafe  con- 
dition ;  several  of  the  bed-plates  which  formerly  received  the 
posts  having  been  removed  in  the  course  of  adapting  the  third 
story  to  business  purposes,  while  others  had  been  completely 
burned  off ;  and  in  those  alterations  the  only  support  left  for 
the  tower  was  upon  the  head  of  two  plank  partitions.  From 
the  decayed  condition  of  the  wood  finish  of  the  exterior  of  the 
tower  it  was  found  necessary  to  remove  ;ill  of  the  sash,  two 
thirds  of  the  pilasters,  pedestals,  balustrades,  and  carved  fiuials, 
and  rei>lace  the  same  by  new  work ;  the  cop[)er  work  of  the 
roof  and  the  old  vane  and  lightning-rod  were  found  in  a  very 
passable  condition. 

The  work  of  reconstruction  occupied  about  six  months'  time, 
having  been  commenced  about  October  15,  1881,  and  completed 

in  July,  1882. 

Very  respectfully  submitted, 

GEORGE  A.   CLOUGH, 
City  Arcliitect. 


APPENDIX    H. 


The  following  report,  on  the  restoration  and  renovation  of  the 
Old  State  House  (City  Document  No.  100  of  1882),  was  submitted 
to  the  Common  Council,  .June  2!),  1882  :  — 


APPENDIX    G.  1G3 

"  The  Committee  on  Publi(!  Build  iugs  was  instruclod  by  the 
City  Council  of  1881  to  give  effect  to  the  following  order  which 
was  approved  by  tlie  Mayor,  Sept.  17,  1881 :  — 

"  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  lie  directed  to  lease  the 
Old  State  House  for  such  terms,  to  such  parties,  and  upon  such  terms  as  they 
may  deem  for  the  best  interests  of  the  City  of  Boston ;  and  said  committee 
are  hereby  authorized  to  expend  a  sum  not  exceeding  thirty-flve  thousand 
dollars  in  repairs  on  building ;  said  sum  to  be  charged  to  the  appropriation 
therefor." 

"Under  these  instructions  the  committee  of  1881  appointed 
Messrs.  Whitmore,  "Woolley,  O'Brien,  and  Morrison,  in  1881,  as 
a  sub-committee ;  and  in  1882,  Messrs.  Woolley,  Hart  (Frost  in 
his  place  from  February  24th),  Morrison  (Whitmore  in  his  place 
from  March  29th),  and  Eddy,  in  the  same  capacity. 

"  Your  committee  begs  leave  to  report  in  part,  at  this  time,  that 
the  work  has  been  substantially  finished,  and  to  submit  a  detailed 
account  of  its  expenditures.  The  estimate  of  $35,000  was  as 
accurate  a  calculation  as  could  be  made  in  advance  ;  and  though, 
as  will  be  shown,  much  more  has  been  done  than  was  anticipated, 
the  work  will  be  finished  so  that  the  building  can  be  delivered  to 
its  occupants  within  the  amount  named. 

"  It  was  found  that  the  work  involved  not  only  the  removal  of 
the  partitions  on  each  floor,  but  an  elaborate  i-econstruction  of  the 
lower  floor  and  basement,  to  fit  them  for  such  tenants  as  the  city 
would  desire  to  have  in  such  a  building.  It  was  found  neces- 
sary to  heat  the  building  by  steam,  in  order  to  do  away  with  the 
chimneys  which  had  been  put  on  during  the  present  century.  It 
was,  of  course,  in  the  view  which  the  committee  took,  necessary 
to  take  off  the  modern  French  roof  and  to  restore  the  old  pitch 
roof  ;  to  take  out  the  glass  fronton  the  west  end,  and  the  flight  of 
stairs  on  the  east  end,  and  to  replace  them  with  substantial  brick 


164  OLD    STATE   HOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 

walls  and  proper  doors  and  windows.  The  plans  of  tli<'  old  Imild- 
ing  and  the  indications  iu  llio  wood-worlt  pointed  to  a  circular 
stairway  between  the  first  and  second  floors.  In  utilizing  the 
basement  for  business  purposes,  it  was  necessary  to  extend  this 
stairway  through  that  story  also.  The  repairs  to  the  tower  were 
costly,  but  indispensable.  Tlie  second  story,  containing  the 
Memorial  Halls,  has  cost  considerabfe  money,  but  tlicre  every 
part  of  the  finish  had  to  be  constructed  afresh. 

"  Your  committee  annex  hereto  the  report  of  the  City  Architect, 
sh'owing,  first,  the  total  cost  of  each  kind  of  work ;  secondly'  the 
cost  of  each  part  of  the  building.  It  seems  that  of  the  $35,000 
the  amount  of  §11,300  was  expended  for  the  antiquarian  part,  or 
the  Memorial  Halls ;  the  remainder  has  been  economically  ex- 
pended iu  arranging  the  building  for  business  purposes,  under  the 
instructions  to  preserve  and  restore  the  original  exterior. 

"  In  conclusion,  your  committee  has  to  report  that  the  work  has 
revealed  the  fact  that  extensive  repairs,  perliaps  costing  $25,000, 
would  have  been  needed  witliiu  a  very  few  years,  as  the  walls 
were  crumbling,  the  timbers  of  the  roof  and  tower  badly  decayed, 
and  even  for  renting  purposes  the  building  could  not  be  compared 
with  the  modern  offices  in  the  vicinity.  It  had  been  hoped  that 
the  appropriation  would  allow  the  committee  to  fit  up  tlie  attic, 
and  to  provide  chandeliers,  etc.,  for  the  halls.  But  as  the  work 
can  be  finished  to  this  point  within  tlie  original  appropriation,  and 
as  these  finishing  touches  can  be  left  to  our  successors,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  mention  the  facts. 

"  Your  committee  would  especially  call  attention  to  the  zeal  and 
success  with  which  the  City  Architect  has  conducted  the  work. 
The  details  of  the  reconstruction  of  the  old  work  have  given  him 
much  extra  labor,  but  it  is  believed  that  everything  which  has 
been  done  has  the  best  architectural  authority  for  it.  A  full 
explanation  of  the  changes  is  reserved  for  another  opportunity. 


APPENDIX    11.  165 

The  various  mechanics  have  heartily  cooperated,  and  the  result 
willfc  it  is  hoped,  prove  that  the  appropriation  has  been  properly 
expended. 

"  Your  committee  anticipate  that  it  can  deliver  up  the  building 
to  the  City  Government  early  in  July,  and,  unless  otherwise  in- 
structed, it  is  their  intention  to  invite  the  City  Council  to  attend 
at  a  formal  celebration  of  tlie  event. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

WILLIAM  WOOLLEY, 
CHARLES  H.  IlERSEY, 
WILLIAM  FROST, 
P.  JAMES  MAGUIRE, 
JOHN  P.  HILTON, 
OTIS  EDDY, 
JOSEPH  P.  CONNELL, 
WILLIAM  H.  WHITMORE, 

Committee  on  Public  Buildings." 


Accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

W.  P.  GREGG, 

Clerk. 


Office  of  City  Architect, 
City  Hall,  June  27,  1882. 

William     Woolley,    Esq.,     Chairman  Committee  in    charge  of 
renovating  the  Old  State  House  :  — 

Dear  Sik,  —  In  compliaTice  with  the  request  of  your  committee, 
I  herewith  present  a  statement  of  the  total  cost  of  reconstructing 
and  refitting  the  ancient  structure,  showing  first  the  cost  of  each 
kind  of  work,  together  with  the  name  of  the  mechanic  tliat  did  it ; 
secondly,  the  separate  cost  of  restoring  each  part  of  the  building  :  — 


166 


OLD   STATE   HOUSE    UE-DEDICATION. 


Carpenters. 

Holbrook  &  Harlow  ....         $9,41.3 

69 

Sidney  Peterson         .         .         .         .           7,4.')  1 

.'!1 

$16,865 

00 

. 

Masons. 

James  Fagan $5,301 

67 

C.  W.  Baxter 365 

25 

5,006 

92 

Painters. 

John  D.  Driscoll        ....         $1,920 

70 

Walburg  &  Sherry     ....              205 

60 

2,186 

30 

Roofing  and  Gutters. 

T.  F.  Harrigan 

• 

1,128 

13 

Superintendent  and  "Watchman 

F.  A.  Hatch  and  M.  Faruham 

. 

1,380 

04 

Steam-heating  and  Ventilation. 
lugalls  &  Keiidrickeu       ..... 

Iron  and  Marble  Work. 
L.  M.  Ham  and  Bowker,  Torrej-,  &  Co.  . 


Granite-AVork. 


E.  R.  Clark 


Plumbing. 


Briutuall  &  Tombs 


Plastering. 


J.  H.  Davis     . 

Amount  carried  forward, 


1,648  00 

1,001  74 

1,099  32 

988  58 

923  19 
$32,947  88 


APPENDIX    II. 


1G7 


Araount  brought  foncanl,  832,947  88 

Carving. 
W.  IT.  Riimncy 850  00 

Gas-1'itting. 
Charles  Pierce 235  29 

Fuel,  atlvertisiug,  nit-catchiug,  and  other  miscella- 
neous items,  amount    ......  82.5  83 


$34,859  00 


Separatk  Cost  of  Restoring  Each  Part. 

Reconstruction  of  roof 

Alteration,  Washingtou-slrcct  end  . 

Alteration,  State-street  end 

Coustructioii  of  sub-cellar 

Fitting  up  of  R.R.  offices 

Fitting  up  antiquarian  rooms   . 

Circular  staircase,  Imll  and  stairs      .  $2,4G0  40 

Staircase  basement  stairs  .  .  .     1,100  00 

Fitting  up  offices,  1st  floor,  State-street  end 

"     basement  ...... 

The  items  of  superintendeucc,  watching,  advertising, 
fuel,  and  work  upon  the  walls  of  outside,  have  not 
been  included  in  the  above  amounts,  in  all  amount- 


ing to 


$4,331  44 
1,658  39 
3,195  00 
1,470  00 

1,877  85 
8,SC4  34 


3,860  40 
1,649  19 
3,148  43 


4,803  96 

$34,859  00 
Very  respectfully  subniittcd, 

GEORGE   A.    CLOUGII, 

City  Architect 


168  OLD   STATU   UOUSE    RE-DEDICATION. 


appe:n^dix  I. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  "  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT  OF 
ME,  ROBERT  KEAYNE,  ALL  OF  IT  WRITTEN  WITH  MY 
OWNE  HANDS  &  BEGAN  BY  ME  MO:  0:  1:  1G53,  COMON:'jY 
CALLED  AUGUST." 

I  Robert  Keayne,  Cittizen  anil  M''cUant  Taj-lor  of  London  by  freedome, 
and  by  tbe  good  Providence  of  God  now  dwelling;  at  Boston  in  New  England 
in  Amireea  being  at  tliis  time  throngli  tlie  great  goodnes  of  mj'  God,  both  in 
liealtli  of  body,  &  of  able  and  sullieient  memory,  yet  considering  tliat  all 
flesh  is  as  grasse,  that  nuist  wither  and  will  returne  to  the  dust,  and  that  my 
life  may  be  taken  away  in  a  moment,  therefore  that  I  may  be  in  the  better 
readinesse  (and  freed  from  tlie  distracting  cares  of  the  disi)osing  of  my  out- 
ward estate,  W'>  coiTionly  foUowesthe  deterring  of  it,  wliile  the  time  of  sick- 
nes  or  day  of  Death,  when  the  minde  should  be  taken  up  witli  more  serious 
and  waighty  consideraeons)  I  doe  therefore  now  in  my  health  make  ordaine 
&  declare  this  to  be  my  Last  Will  and  Testament  and  to  stand  and  to  be  as  ef- 
fectual! as  if  I  had  made  it  in  my  sicknes,  or  in  the  day  or  houre  of  my 
death,  which  is  in  manner  and  forme  following 

**♦♦****** 

This  being  pi'missed  in  respect  of  my  soule  &  my  faith  in  .lesus  Christ,  I 
doe  next  comitt  my  body  to  the  earth  (&  to  comely  &  decent  burriall)  there 
to  rest  till  my  loveing  Savio''  by  his  Almighty  power  sliall  raise  it  up  againe, 
at  whieli  time  I  eontidently  beleive  it  shalbe  reunited  to  my  owne  soule,  and 
there  sliall  receive  according  to  tlie  works  that  I  have  done  in  this  life  accord- 
ing as  tliey  have  beene  good  or  evill  in  the  sight  of  God,  or  according  to  that 
faith  and  confidence  that  I  have  in  the  free  grace  and  merits  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  As  for  my  Buriall  I  shall  not  desire  any  great  outward  solem- 
nitie  to  be  used  further  [liiO.]  tlien  that  which  shalbe  decent  &  civill  as  be- 
comes Christians  knowing  that  extraordinary  solemnities  can  nothing  add  to 
the  peace  or  benefit  of  the  deceased,  yet  haveing  beene  trayned  up  in  Millitary 
Discipline  from  my  young'' yeares,  &  haveing  endeavoured  to  promote  it 
the  best  I  could  since  God  hath  brought  me  into  this  country  &  seeing  he 
hath  beene  jdeased  to  use  me  as  a  |ioore  instrument  to  lay  y '  foundation  of 
tluit  Noble  Society  of  the  Artillery  Company  in  this  place,  that  hath  so  farr 
prospered  by  the  blessing  of  God  as  to  helpe  many  witli  good  experience  in 
the  use  of  theire  Amies  &  more  exact  knowledge  in  the  Millitary  Art  & 
hath  beene  a  nursery  to  raise  up  many  able  and  well  experienced  souldiers 
that  hath  done  since  good  service  for  their  country,  therefore  to  declare  my 
affections  to  that  exercise  &  the  society  of  souldiers,  I  shall  desire  to  be 
liurycd  as  a  souldier  in  a  Millitary  v/ay,  if  the  time  &  place  of  ray  death  and 
other  occasions  may  suite  thereunto  which  I  leave  to  the  discretion  of  my 
executors  and  friends 

As  for  the  goods  of  this  life  which  the  Lord  of  his  aboundant  mercy,  his 
rich  &  undeserved  favo'  hath  bestowed  &  reserved  to  me  the  greatest  of  sin- 
ners and  the  unworthyest  of  all  his  servants  I  disjiose  of  in  manner  following 
**♦♦****** 
♦  *♦*♦#♦*** 

These  thirds  for  my  wife  being  p^messed  &  my  ffunnerall  charges  &  debts 
being  provided  for  as  I  have  before  mentioned     The  rest  of  my  whole  estate 


AI"PKNDIX  I.  1G9 


both  personnall  &  reall  witli  my  lands  housing  &  all  otiier  thini^s  bclonKini!; 
to  n\v  estate  1  Jcvide  into  two  parts,  tlio  one  part  wliereof  I  t;ive  and  be- 
qneath  unto  my  welljeloved  &  only  son  Benjamin  Keayne,  the  other  part  of 
my  estate,  I  meanc  the  jnst  or  due  value  of  it  I  reserve  as  my  owno  right  to 
dispose  of  as  I  please  whieh  is  as  herein  shall  after  be  expressed. 

*****  +  ***♦ 

********** 

I  h.iveing  long  thought  &  eonsidored  of  the  want  of  some  necessary  things 
of  publike  concernment  whieh  may  not  be  only  comodious  but  very 
profitable  &  iisefuU  for  the  Towne  of  Boston,  as  a  Market  place  &  Cundit,  the 
one  a  good  lielpe  in  danger  of  fyre,  the  want  of  which  wee  liave  found  by  sad 
&  costly  experience  not  only  in  other  parts  of  the  towne  wliere  possibly  tliey 
have  better  supply  for  water  but  in  the  heart  of  the  towne  about  the  market 
place,  the  otiier  usefull  for  the  country  people  that  come  with  theire  pro- 
visions for  the  sujiply  of  l\\\i  towne,  tliat  they  niiiy  have  a  place  to  sitt  dry  in 
and  warme  both  in  cold  rain,'  &  durty  weather  &  may  have  a  place  to  leave 
theire  eorne  or  any  other  things  safe  that  they  cannot  sell,  till  they  come 
agaiue,  which  wcmld  bo  both  an  incouragement  to  the  country  to  come  in  & 
a  great  meanes  to  increase  trading  in  the  [12€5.]  Towne  also,  to  have  some 
convenient  roome  or  too  for  the  Courts  to  meete  in  both  in  Winter  &  Sumcr 
&  so  for  the  Townes  men  &.  Comissic*  of  the  Towne,  also  in  the  same 
building  or  the  like  there  may  be  a  convenient  roome  for  a  Library  &  a 
gallery  or  some  other  handsome  roome  for  the  Elders  to  meete  in  &  conferr 
together  when  they  have  occasion  to  come  to  the  towne  for  any  such  ende,  as 
I  perceive  they  have  many,  Then  in  the  same  building  there  may  be  also  a 
roome  for  an  Armory  to  keepe  the  Armes  of  the  Artillery  Company  &  for  the 
Souldiers  to  meete  in  when  they  have  occasion.  Now  if  it  should  not  be 
thought  convenient  by  the  Elilers  &,  Deacons  or  guids  of  the  towne  that  all 
these  conveniencyes  should  be  under  one  roofe  or  in  one  place  of  the  towne 
or  that  there  be  some  places  already  built  that  may  conveniently  be  used  or 
fitted  up  with  smale  cost  for  some  of  these  purposes,  as  in  the  Meeting  House 
for  a  Uranere  or  Armory  &  other  places  in  it  for  the  Magistrates  &  Comissio"" 
to  meete  in  as  they  doe  sometimes,  it  is  true  in  the  sunier  they  may,  in  the 
Winter  they  cannot  for  want  of  chimneyes  &  fyres,  but  it  would  be  necessary 
&  more  convenient  (And  the  Towne  hath  beene  often  speaking  about  it,  to 
have  such  a  building  for  such  uses  though  yet  it  hath  not  beene  aceomplished ) 
if  there  were  a  place  fitteil  on  purpose  ijc  set  apart  for  suce  publike  uses,  and  if 
advice  were  taken  with  some  skilfuU  &  ingenious  workmen  &  some  others  that 
have  good  heads  in  contriving  of  buildings  such  as  Mr.  Broughton,  Mr. 
Clarke,  the  Chirirgion  &c.  there  might  such  a  model  be  drawiie  up  that  one 
fabrieke  or  building  may  [li2(}.]  be  easily  contrived  that  would  conveniently 
accomodate  all  these  uses,  without  extraordinary  cost  and  yet  may  be  so  done 
as  would  be  a  great  ornament  to  the  towne  as  well  as  usefull  &  profitable 
otherwiiyes  but  if  the  cheife  of  the  towne  should  be  of  anoth''  minde,  then  I 
should  pro|iose  this,  that  the  cundit  &  Markett  House  be  sett  in  the  market  place 
somewhere  betweene  M'  Cogins  house  &  mine  or  any  where  in  that  great 
streete  betweene  M'.  Parkers  House  &M''.  Brentons  or  rather  M'.  Webb's  if  it 
should  be  judged  there  to  be  more  convenient,  these  two  may  handsomely  be 
contrived  in  one  building  in  w""  possibly  may  be  some  other  convenient 
rooines  fitt  for  some  of  the  uses  before  mentioned  besides  &  for  those  which 
th.at  place  cannot  supply,  as  for  a  Library  &  for  a  Gallere  or  Long  Koome 
for  the  Devines  &  Sehollers  to  meete  &  conferr  togeather  upon  any  occasion 
it  may  be  contrived  to  be  sett  all  along  on  the  foreside  of  the  Meeting  house 
joyning  to  it  on  the  one  side  and  the  other  side  to  be  sujiixirted  with  pillars  so 
tlij  roomes  about  may  be  for  Court  meetings  at  the  one  side  &  the  Elders  at 
the  other  &  the  open  roome  betweene  the  pillars  may  serve  for  Merchants. 
M'  of  Shipps  and  strangers  as  well  as  the  towne  (being  either  paled  or  horded 
on  the  ground)  to  meete  in  at  all  times  to  conferr  about  there  busines  & 
occasions  w<^''  I  conceive  would  be  very  advantagius  to  the  towne  &  may  be  so 


170  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    liE-DEDICATIOX. 

contrived  &  sett  forth  y' will  be  no  disgrace  or  ineunibranco  to  the  meetint;  hou^e 
but  a  great  ornament  to  it,  but  if  it  should  be  thought  not  convenient  to  have  it  in 
the  front  of  the  Jleeting  [1:J7.]  House,  it  may  aeconiplisli  the  same  ends,  if 
placed  on  that  side  of  the  Meeting  House  from  Seargeant  Williams  shop  to 
Deacon  Trusdalls  house,  or  if  a  building  placed  in  one  of  these  two  places 
may  accomplish  all  the  ends  before  nienconed  save  only  the  Cuuditt  tlu-n  a 
large  Cundit  may  be  sett  up  alone,  about  the  place  where  the  Pillary  stands 
&  the  other  about  the  mei'ting  house  as  before  w"''  I  leave  to  the  best  con- 
triveraent  of  the  towne  &  the  Elders  &  Deacons  w*  building  or  buildings  if 
the  towne  shall  thinke  meete  to  goe  about  it  &  improve  them  for  the  scverall 
uses  before  mentioned,  only  the  Granere  may  be  in  any  other  place  of  the 
towne  as  shalbe  thought  convenient,  I  stand  not  upon  that  tboiigh  my  owne 
judgement  leads  me  to  thinke  that  some  places  or  place  about  the  Comon 
Market  or  near  to  it  wilbe  most  suitable  for  many  reasons.  I  say  towards  the 
building  of  these  convenient  jilaces. 

Item  1  s^ive  and  bequeatli  three  hundreth  pounds  in  good  merchantable 
pay  the  one  third  part  thereof  when  the  frame  is  brought  to  the  place  & 
raysed  or  some  part  of  it  before  when  the  frame  is  in  some  forwardness  if 
neede  be,  the  seconde  part  when  the  ehimneyes  are  built,  the  house  covered 
and  closed  in  round  and  all  the  floores  layd,  and  the  last  third  part  wlien  it 
is  quite  finished,  provided  that  it  be  gone  about  and  finished  within  two  or 
three  yeares  at  the  nu)st  after  my  decease,  and  if  any  of  these  either  a  Cundet 
or  Markett  House  should  be  sett  up  before  my  death,  by  the  towne  or  any 
other  in  the  place  or  places  above  mentioned,  then  tny  gift  shall  remaiue 
good  either  for  some  addith)n  to  the  same  worke  or  for  the  accomplishing  of 
those  other  workes  by  nic  mentioned  that  are  not  done  by  others,  with  a  re- 
bating proportionable  to  what  [128.]  is  or  shalbe  before  done  by  the  towne 
or  any  other  Pson,  Now  that  these  things  may  not  be  only  for  a  show  or  a 
name  &  when  finished  prove  as  shaddowes  &  stand  as  emjitie  roomes  without 
substance  that  the.v  may  be  improved  for  the  tises  that  I  ayine  at  &  intend 
though  my  estate  is  not  such  as  whereby  I  am  able  to  doe  what  I  desire  & 
would  be  willing  to  doe  if  had  it,  for  such  publike  benefitt,  yet  for  examples 
sake  &  encouragement  of  others  (especially  of  our  owne  towne  w'h  will 
have  the  benefitt  of  it)  &  such  in  the  towne  that  have  publike  spirits  &  some 
comfortable  estates  to  helpe  on  such  workes  I  shalbe  willing  to  cast  in  my 
mite  &  bring  my  lime  &  hare  possibly  God  may  stirr  up  the  hearts  of  others 
to  bring  in  their  Badger  skines  &  silkc  &  others  more  costly  things  that  the 
worke  may  goe  on  &  prosper  in  so  sniale  a  beginning 

Therefore  to  the  Granere  I  give  and  bequeath  One  hundred  pounds  to  be 
payd  in  Corne  and  that  to  be  improved  for  a  publike  stocke  to  such  uses  & 
ends  as  I  shall  hereafter  mention 

Next  the  Library  &  Gallere  for  Devines  &  SchoUors  to  raeete  in  being 
finished 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  beginning  of  that  Library  my  3  great  writing 
bookes  W^''  are  intended  as  an  Exposition  or  Interpretation  of  tlie  whole 
Bible,  as  also  a  4"'  great  writing  booke  in  whicli  is  an  exposition  on  the 
Prophecy  of  Daniel  of  the  Revelations  &  the  Propliecy  of  llosea  not  long  since 
began,  all  which  Kookes  are  written  with  my  owne  band  so  farr  as  they  be 
writt  &  could  desier  that  some  able  schoUor  or  two  that  is  active  and  dilli- 
gent  &  addicted  to  reading  and  writing  were  ordered  to  carry  on  the  same 
worke  by  degrees  as  they  have  leasure  and  opportunitie  &  in  the  same 
methode  and  way  as  I  have  begun  (if  a  better  be  not  advised  to)  at  least  if 
[lUO.]  it  shalbe  estocnied  for  the  profitt  of  it  to  young  students  (though 
not  so  to  more  able  an  1  learned  Devines  in  these  knowing  times)  worth  tli-' 
lalio'  as  I  have  &  doe  fiiide  it  to  my  selfe  wortli  all  the  paines  &  labour  I 
have  bestowed  upon  them,  so  that  if  I  had  100"'  layd  me  downe  for  them,  to 
deprive  me  of  them,  till  ray  sight  or  life  should  be  taken  from  me  I  should 
not  part  from  them 


APPENDIX   I.  171 


And  because  I  perceive  that  the  Elders  of  the  neigbo'ing  townes  have  ap- 
pointed ccrtaine  times  in  y"^  yeare  as  chiefly  in  Suiner  time  once  a  moneth  to 
meete  together  to  conlirr  about  ordering;  things  in  the  Churches  according  to 
God  &  to  debate  al)out  doubts  or  difficult  questions  that  may  arise,  in  matte i-s  of 
religion  and  such  like  and  that  they  have  noe  place  to  meete  in,  but  at  one  of 
our  Elders  houses  nor  nothing  to  refresh  tlicmselveswith  hut  of  them  W^-'  may 
prove  too  great  ii  biirtlien  to  our  Elders  (the  meetings  being  so  often  and  con- 
tinueing  constant)  t'l  lieare  of  tlieire  owne  charge  besides  other  burtliens  &  in- 
conveniences tliey  may  undergoe  Tlierefore  the  roome  before  mentioned  be- 
ing fitted  y'  they  may  meete  when  they  please  thereat  I  doe  will  and  bequeath 
fower  pounds  a  yeare  to  be  payd  out  of  some  of  my  shops  in  Boston  by 
quarterly  payments  W^'^  may  be  ordered  and  disposed  as  the  Eld"  shall  direct 
or  advise  to  provide  some  refreshing  for  them  when  they  meete  or  now  and 
then  dmn"  as  farr  as  it  will  gue  &  as  themselves  slialbe  pleased  to  husband 
it,  iu)t  that  I  would  jmt  upon  my  Executor  the  care  of  such  provisions  or  of 
buying  or  dressing  the  meate,  l)ut  tliat  he  sliould  appointe  w"''  shop  should  pay 
them  so  much  &  then  they  miy  appointe  a  steward  of  tlieire  owne  to  receive 
the  pay  every  quarter  &.  then  tliey  to  direct  how  it  shalbe  layd  out  or  dis- 
posed of  for  that  ende  to  there  owne  content,  only  I  would  p''misse  tliis  if 
there  meeting  be  onlj'  in  the  Suiner  &  not  in  the  Winter  as  1  conceive  then  my 
will  is  that  tjiey  sliould  receive  this  fower  [131.]  pounds  every  Suiner,  by 
forty  sliillings  a  quarter  as  that  which  wilbe  most  convenient  for  tliere  meet- 
ing, and  this  gift  of  fower  pounds  p  anno  I  give  for  the  sjiace  of  Ten  ycares 
from  the  time  of  my  death,  if  that  meeting  continue  so  long  in  that  towne, 
hoping  that  before  then  some  other  may  be  moved  to  step  in  &  to  add  so  much 
more  to  it  as  may  serve  to  jirovide  a  moderate  dinner  for  every  time  of  there 
meeting  so  that  noe  jiart  of  the  cliarge  of  it  may  lye  upon  themselves  and 
when  the  10  ycares  is  ended  I  doubt  not  if  my  son  be  then  liveing  here  (&  my 
buildings  continue  as  now,  that  he  would  continue  this  gift  of  myne  longer  if 
thnt  meeting  continue  longer  &  proves  by  experience  to  be  much  for  the  good 
and  advantage  of  religion  &  the  churches  as  is  intended  &  not  to  the  hurt  & 
p  jiidice  of  the  s:ime 

And  if  a  convenient  fayre  roome  in  one  of  the  buildings  before  mentioned 
be  sequestered  &  set  a  ]iart  for  an  Amory  &  the  meeting  of  the  Artillery  if 
there  it  be  thought  convenient  or  if  some  other  place  be  provided  for  that  use 
more  convenient,  with  the  Officers  of  that  Companys  advice,  I  am  not  strict 
for  the  very  place  so  they  have  content  in  it,  though  yet  I  thinke  the  very 
hart  &  securest  jiart  of  the  towne  (&  noe  out  or  by  place)  is  the  most  fitt  for 
a  Magazene  for  Armes  because  of  tiie  danger  of  surprizing  of  them,  the  jiiace 
tliat  they  now  use  willjc  fitt,  to  scower  &  tend  the  Armes  in  ^t  the  other  to  lay 
them  up  &  keepe  them  in.  which  wilbe  a  comely  sight  for  straingers  to  see  & 
a  great  ornament  to  the  roome  &  also  to  the  towne  where  [13ii.]  the  soul- 
diers  may  arme  themselves  every  time  they  goe  to  exercise,  such  a  place  be 
ing  provided  I  give  &  bequeath  five  pounds  for  the  incouragein'  of  that  Com- 
pany ti)  be  layd  out  in  Pikes  &  Bandal™  for  the  use  of  such  souldiers  of  that 
Comp:iny  that  live  in  other  townes,  so  farr  as  it  cannot  be  convenient  for  them 
to  brnig  there  armes  w"'  them,  or  if  the  Officers  of  that  Company  doe  know 
any  other  thinge  that  the  Company  wants  thatwiUie  more  usefull  for  the  gen- 
nerall  good  of  the  Company  then  what  I  have  mentioned  that  will  continue 
&  not  be  spent  or  consumed  in  the  use,  then  I  am  willing  that  the  whole 
or  any  part  of  this  legacy  may  be  so  disposed  of  takeiug  in  the  advice  and 
consent  of  mv  Executor  in  the  same. 


Now  concerning  the  originall  legacy  of  Three  hundred  pounds  that  I  liave 
given  to  the  Towne  of  Bistou  for  the  raysing  of  a  Cundit  in  the  Jlarket 
place  &  for  a  building  to  fitt  for  such  uses  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  if  any 
shall  alle.adge  that  three  hundred  jiounds  is  not  sufficient  to  accomplish  it  I 
ansW.     1.   That  it  may  be  some  of  these  may  be  gone  about  &  finished  by 


172  OLD   STATE   HOUSE    KE-DEDICATION. 


y«  Towne  before  God  may  call  me  out  of  this  world  as  y'  Cundet  or  m'ket 
house  &c.  ■&  then  there  willie  the  lesse  to  doc  and  I  know  tliat  the  Towne 
lialh  agitated  it  &  seriously  intended  to  have  gone  about  to  doe  them  all 
exeept  only  y"^  library,  as  such  things  that  are  needfuU  &  will  turne  to  the 
publike  advantage  of  the  Towne.  •;'.>'.  I  say  that  1  conceive  if  it  be  well 
managed  &  ordered  it  niiiy  doe  it  all  or  very  ncare  it.  I  suppose  one  of  the 
two  last  houses  that  1  Iniilt  hath  roonie  enough  in  it  to  accomplish  all  the 
ends  before  mentioni'd  excepting  the  t'undit,  if  it  had  beene  lirst  contrived 
&  thought  on  for  such  an  ende,  yet  that  hath  not  cost  me  400"'.  not  by  so 
much  us  I  suppose  [14-0.]  will  neare  build  a  new  Condit,  but  Thirdly  if  it 
should  fall  short  1  <l(ie  I'.xpect  &  sup])c>se  that  the  Towne  wilbe  willing  to  add" 
to  it  &  make  up  the  rest  either  by  enlarging  of  the  Conveniencyes  or  beauti- 
fying the  structure  for  the  better  ornament  of  tlie  towne  &  possibly  some 
else  may  thinke  of  some  other  tiling  wanting,  that  may  be  as  usefuU  to  the 
genn''ail  gon<l  of  tin?  tn\\-ne  as  most  of  tliese  lo  In*  adiled  to  it,  \\'''  I  liave  not 
thought  upon,  besides  if  I  were  about  to  build  a  tltinge  that  I  conceive  would 
be  very  usefull  &  advantagious  to  me  but  am  not  comfortably  able  to  beare 
the  charge  <if  it,  if  any  freind  out  of  love  to  me  would  lend  me  300'"*.  some 
considerable  time  gratise  it  would  be  a  great  incouragement  to  me  to  goe  on 
with  the  worke,  but  if  he  should  offer  to  give  me  freely  300"'.  towards  it  I 
should  think  my  selfe  bound  to  be  very  thankefuU  to  him  and  to  be  willing 
to  malce  up  what  is  wanting  rather  than  I  would  loose  so  free  a  kindnes  by 
my  neglecting  of  the  worke. 

But  possibly  some  wilbe  ready  to  apprehend  that  I  may  doe  this  only  for 
my  owno  endes  &  benetitt  w""  may  nuike  them  the  more  backward  to  have  it 
goe  on  especially  with  any  of  there  owne  Cost,  for  some  such  spiritts  there 
be  that  had  rather  deny  tbenisclves  abenefitt  then  that  another  should  enjoye 
a  greater  benetitt  by  it,  as  some  have  said  that  I  have  beene  very  forward  to 
have  a  Cundit  in  y'  place  because  I  have  so  many  houses  &  l)uihlings  tlierc 
.about  &  so  a  Market  House  [141.]  wilbe  more  the  beueficiall  to  bring  trade 
lo  my  sliojis.  I  answ'  putt  case  tliat  this  were  in  all  things  true,  it  is  notsine- 
fuU  nor  uTilawfull  in  (,'liristian  priulence  to  pvide  meanes  for  the  p''venting 
of  danger  or  procureing  of  any  lawful!  good,  I  doubt  not  but  they  \.ould  doe 
the  like  if  it  were  their  owne  case.  But  2'">'  what  advantage  will  this  be 
to  me  when  I  am  dead  and  gone,  if  others  should  not  receive  more  benefitt 
then  I  by  it  I  need  not  trouble  my  selfe  with  what  may  fall  out  in  after  times, 
in  these  respects  for  I  shall  feele  no  want,  nor  suffer  any  damiige  by  such 
losses  &  a  100  things  would  come  into  consideration  as  nei'dl'uU  to  p'vent 
or  provich'  for  as  these,  if  men  goeing  out  of  the  world  slioidd  trouble  them- 
selves with  tlio  care  of  such  clianges  and  tilings  tliat  may  happen  when  tliey 
are  dead  ;?'">'  If  my  liousen  only  were  there  &  no  other  shops  but  myne, 
there  might  be  more  ground  for  such  an  ajiprehonsion,  but  it  is  the  heart  of 
the  towne  and  many  fayre  buildings  &  shops  there  be  round  about,  the 
Market  is  there  seated  allready,  the  Market  house  is  more  for  the  conveniency 
of  Strang"  &  there  accomodation  in  winter  and  sumer  in  wet  &  dry  there  for 
the  inhabitants  of  the  towne  &  in  tliat  respect' it  is  a  worke  of  charilie  and 
mercy  and  though  some  ]iticular  psoas  that  trade  may  I'.ave  more  benehtt 
by  it  then  some  other  psons  that  dwell  further  off,  yet  the  advantage  & 
protitt  of  it  will  redound  to  the  whole  towne  in  genn^all  and  for  my  owne 
pticnlar  I  haveing  given  overtrade  [142.]  long  agoe)  the  nearenes  of  the 
market  is  more  chargeable  than  beneficiall  to  ine,  if  I  looked  not  at  a 
genn^all  &  publike  good,  more  then  my  private  &  for  the  Cunditt  I  confesse 
it  is  very  necessary  &  usefull  in  many  respects,  especially  in  danger  of  fyre 
&  well  it  were  if  there  were  more  of  them  in  tlie  towne  then  there  is,  Init 
that  it  wilbe  more  beneficiall  to  me  or  that  1  shall  have  more  neede  of  it  then 
others  who  can  tell,  who  knowes  y'  my  house  alone  shalhe  sett  on  fyre,  God 
may  ji'serve  myne  tliongh  divers  others  may  be  consumed,  as  it  fell  mit  lately 
by  sad  experience,  had  there  beene  a  Condit  in  the  Market  place  before,  then 
would  it  not  have  beene  looked  at  &  found  to  be  a  publike  good,  might  not 


APPENDIX   I.  173 


some  of  the  houses  beene  saved  that  were  consmiiefl  more  worth  then  the 
charge  of  setting  up  three  or  fuwer  such  Conditts,  nay  if  the  fyre  had  gone 
on  in  its  rage  as  it  was  most  lilce  (liad  not  God  in  unexpected  mercy 
p'vented  it)  &  ceased  upon  others  houses  as  it  tlireatened  to  doe,  the  wliole 
towne  would  liare  liad  cause  to  tliiidic  &  to  have  liewaiU-d  tlie  want  of  it) 
that  such  a  Cor.ditt  was  a  pulilique  good  &  tlie  want  of  it  a  pul)li(jue  evill 
tlinngli  "some  pticular  psons  might  have  luiil  tlie  hencfite  of  it  at  that  time 
morr  than  iilhers,  and  at  some  other  times  others  might  have  had  more  neede 
&  more  benetitt  by  it  than  they  but  if  my  houses  &  shopes  stoode  alone  or 
if  I  only  should  need  &  not  others,  if  it  were  for  my  owne  private  &  not  for 
the  publique  good  of  others,  I  would  build  a  Condit  &  a  Market  house  too  it 
there  were  neede  [14-;l.J  at  my  own  charge  without  calling  in  the  hclpe  of 
others  &  I  thinke  if  my  owne  heart  deceive  me  not,  my  ayme  in  all  these 
things  proposed  is  fur  ihe  gcmrall  good  nt  the  towne  &  tliat  if  I  had  noc 
house  tliereabouls  but  had  lived  in  some  oilier  part  of  the  towne,  I  should  be 
as  forward  to  jirouioie  these  workes  as  I  have  beene  formerly  or  am  at  this 
p'scnt,  so  I  should  iK'sire  all  my  loveing  brethren  &  neighbo"'  of  the  towne 
to  inlerp''  &  accept  of  what  I  tender  to  them,  as  a  fruito  of  my  true  endeavo'' 
&  desire  of  the  townes  good  &  not  at  any  private  advantage  ot  me  or  myne  & 
as  one  y'  have  lieene  willing  &  desireous  to  helpe  them  forward  in  my  life- 
time rather  than  death,  And  for  that  legacy  of  one  hundred  pound  before 
mentione<l  for  y"  Grannere  to  begin  a  stocke  for  a  pul)liipie  mngzine  of 
Corne  for  the  towne  or  cheitely  the  ]>oorcr  sort  in  it,  now  what  private  ends 
or  advantage  can  any  one  apprehend  I  can  have  in  that  when  I  am  ilead  &  so 
for  the  library  cSt  armory  &  Platlfurme  &  Butt  tor  the  incon'agem'  of  the 
Artillery  (Company  &  or  free  schoole  or  what  I  had  set  ajiart  form'ly  for  the 
trayning  up  of  the  Indians  Children  in  learning  &  some  Knglisli  schoU™  to 
learne  the  Indian  Tongue,  now  if  these  cannot  but  be  inter])''te{l  for  a  pub- 
lique and  genn'all  good  to  the  towne  why  should  any  conceive  otherwise  of 
the  other,  for  the  Conditt  there  is  none  in  the  markett  place  &  if  such  a 
worke  be  needfull  in  any  p'.  of  the  towne,  it  is  "i  times  more  needfuU  there 
[  l-t-l.]  &  so  for  the  market  bouse  except  there  were  more  publique  markets 
set  up  in  some  othere  p'».  of  the  towne  &  though  God  hath  beene  jdeased  in 
some  measure  to  carry  me  on  with  a  publique  spirit  to  seeke  the  good  of  the 
towne  according  to  that  abillity  which  God  hath  beene  pleased  to  afford  unto 
me  though  I  am  not  able  to  doe  according  to  the  largenes  of  my  desire  hope- 
ing  that  God  will  raise  np  some  others  after  me,  of  abler  estates  &  opener 
hearts  &  hands  to  add  larger  additions  to  these  weake  beginnings  or  to  begin 
some  others  that  may  be  more  usefull  than  these. 


And  for  the  Three  hundred  pounds  which  I  h.ave  given  to  the  Towne  of 
Boston  to  build  a  Condit,  a  Market  house  &  Towne  house  with  a  Library 
Grannere  &  Armore,  as  I  have  before  mentioned  if  the  towne  of  Boston 
shall  slight  or  imdervalue  this  gift  or  my  good  will  to  them  therein  &  shall 
refuse  or  neglect  to  goe  about  &  finish  those  seVall  buildings  in  manner  & 
time  before  mentioned  rather  than  they  wilbe  troubled  with  it,  or  add  any- 
thing of  theirc  owne  for  the  finisheing  of  it,  then  my  will  is  th<at  this  gift  of 
;roO"'.  given  to  Boston  for  the  uses  of  those  buildings  before  mentioned  shall 
utterly  cease  and  become  voyil  in  i-espect  of  Boston  &  those  giftcs  that  I  have 
given  with  relation  to  those  buildings  as  my  Bookes  to  the  Library  &"■  or  any 
others  of  Ihem  tliat  I  have  [153.]  not  before  provided  for  &  ordered  shalbe 
&  remane  to  the  sole  use  of  the  Collidge  at  Cambridge  in  the  same  manner 
that  I  have  ordered  the  former  IL'O"'.  in  Corne  for  the  poore  in  Boston,  in 
case  tlie  l>eacons  or  Towne  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  give  security  for  the 
principall  stocke  as  before  is  mentioned. 

My  true  meaning  herein  is  this  that  if  the  Towne  of  Boston  shall  sett 
upon  one  or  two  of  these  workes  &.  neglect  or  refuse  to  carry  on  the  rest  (or  some 
of  the  other  that  I  have  mentioned  happely  being  done  by  the  Towne  before 


174  OLD    STATK   HOUSE    UE-DEDICATION. 


I  dye)  iis  if  thoy  should  build  only  tlic  Condit  &  Markpt  house  &  not  a  Townps 
house  or  Library  &  Gallorc  or  a  Grannere  &  Arniorc  &  not  a  ('ondit  or 
Market  house  &".  then  my  ■vrill  is  that  my  executo''  shall  (live  only  sneh  a 
projiorlion  of  this  Three  luimlredth  pounds  as  that  worUe  or  buiUhiij;  shall 
come  too,  w'"''  they  set  upon  only  in  relation  to  tliis  jjift  of  myne,  compared 
with  the  value  of  the  other  buildings  that  I  have  likewise  mentioned  but  they 
have  left  undone  &  that  wliat  upon  that  account  shalbc  reserved  of  tlie  300"'. 
shalbe  for  the  use  of  the  Colliilge  of  Cambridfje,  as  I  have  given  the  whole 
300"'.  in  case  they  refuse  or  neglect  to  finisli  all  those  buildings  or  any  of 
them  within  two  or  three  yeares  after  my  death  as  iieforc  I  have  ordered. 
*  *  *'*  *  *  *  *  *  * 

********** 
And  concerning  my  bookes  that  I  have  given  to  begin  the  Library  with  all 
in  Boston,  my  will  is  that  my  brother  Willson  &  M'  Norton  Eld'*  at  Boston 
or  the  teaching  Eld'^'  that  shall  at  the  time  of  my  death  (after  my  wife  and 
son  Benjamine  have  made  cboyce  of  some  bookes  for  tlieire  owne  use  as  I 
have  before  e.xpressed)  may  be  reqnested  to  take  paines  to  view  over  the  rest 
of  my  bookes  &  such  as  they  shall  judge  fitt  f(n-  that  use  to  take  a  pticuK  note 
or  inventory  of  them  &  so  to  take  them  into  there  owne  keeping  or  to  leave 
them  with  my  execute)''  if  they  will,  till  the  time  mentioned  io  this  will  be  ac- 
complished, tluit  if  the  towne  of  Boston  should  not  within  three  yeares  after 
my  death  build  a  handsome  roome  for  a  Library  &  anoth'  for  the  Eld'"  & 
Seholl's  to  walke  &  nieete  in,  as  before  I  have  expressed,  that  then  they  may 
(  lo7,]  be  delivered  to  the  President  or  some  of  the  Overseers  of  Herbert 
CoUidge  in  Cambridge  to  be  placed  as  my  gift  or  addition  to  that  Library  that 
is  already  begun  there. 


Therefore  I  doe  here  againe  declare  all  that  which  is  contained  before  in  nine 
sheetes  of  paper  writt  with  my  owne  hand  in  all  the  sides  thereof  &  more  par- 
ticularly expressed  in  the  30  page  y'  of  with  all  that  is  .added  to  it  in  tins  page 
37  to  be  my  last  Will  &  Testament  &  my  son  Major  Benjamine  Keayne  to 
be  sole  executor  thereof  &  my  loveing  freinds  mentioned  in  the  lower  ende 
of  page  36  to  be  the  overseers  of  it. 

In  Wittnes  whereof  as  there  so  here  againe  I  have  jnitt  to  my  hand  &  scale 
in  the  p'sence  of  these  whose  names  &  handes  are  hereunder  written  this 
Ueeember  28,  1053 

Rohekt  Keavne  &  a  scale 

John  Willson  Edw  Ting 

KiCIIAUD    r.VRKER  Roll''     HuLL 

Edw  Efletcher 

[274.]  Att  a  County  Court  held  at  Boston  2d  of  May  lO.jil 
M''  .John  Wilson  Sen.  M'.  Richard  Parker  &  M'.  Edward  Tyng  deposed  before 
the  Court  that  Cap'  Robert  Ke.ayne  at  y"  times  meiitoned  in  the  thirty  sixt 
page  &  thirty  seventh  pag.  did  call  them  in  and  declared  these  nine  sheets  of 
paper  &  one  page  to  be  his  last  will  &  testament  &  sawe  him  signe  and  scale 
the  same  &  y'  they  know  of  no  other  will  w:''  was  approved  of  by  y"  Court  as 
attests 

Edwahi)  Ravvson  Recorder 
[In  Margin,  page  273.] 

At  a  County  Court  for  Suffolke  heldat  Boston 

2'.)"'  Janur"  A"  1083 
The  Execute''*  within  nominated  of  the  last  'H'ill  of  Capt"  Robert  Keyne 
sometime  of  Boston  dece''  hereto  annexed  being  both  dead !  Power  of 
Adin"""  of  y"  estate  of  .s''  Cap""  Keyne  is  granted  unto  M''  Nicholas  Paige  and 
.\nna  his  wife  Grand  daughf  of  s'^  Robert  Keyne  to  pursue  the  iierfornuiuee 
of  Ids  will  in  what  remains  to  I)C  done  therein,  they  to  give  liond  of  one 
thousand  pounds  to  execute  the  same,  their  own  bond  being  accepted  by  y 
Court  is  accordingly  taken 

Attest  Is-^  Addixgton  01'''= 


APPENDIX  J.  175 


APPENDIX  J. 


THE     FIRE    IN     1747. 

[On  pp.  57-58  we  have  given  two  contemporaneous  accounts  of 
the  destruction  of  tiie  House,  by  fire,  iu  1747.  The  following 
description  is  worthy  of  preservation  as  containing  some  additional 
particulars.] 

From  the  Boston    Gazette,  or   WeeMy  Journal:  No.   1343. 
Tuesday,  December  15,  1747. 

"  Last  Wednesday  Morning  this  Town  was  exceedingly  sur- 
prised by  a  most  terrible  Fire  which  broke  out  at  tlie  Court 
House,  whereby  that  spacious  and  beautiful  Building,  except  the 
bare  walls,  ivas  entirely  destroyed:  The  Rise  and  Progress  of 
which,  according  to  the  best  Information  we  can  get,  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz. :  The  Day  before  being  very  cold,  and  the  General 
Court  sitting,  there  had  been  two  fierce  Firus  In  the  Vhimnies  of 
the  Chambers  both  of  the  Council  and  Representatives ;  and  from 
those  Chimnies  between  them  the  Fire  seems  to  have  been  kin- 
dled, and  to  have  been  lurking  all  Night  in  one  of  the  Beams 
beneath  them,  till  it  first  broke  out  in  the  Deal  or  Cedar  Wainscot 
passage  between  the  Doors  of  those  Chambers,  which  were  of  Deal 
or  Cedar  Wainscot  also. 

"  For  at  Six  in  the  Morning  the  Watch  at  the  East  End  of  the 
Town  IIou«e  broke  up ;  and  between  five  and  ten  Minutes  after, 
the  Rays  of  the  Fire  first  discover'd  it  iu  the  said  Passage  through 
the  great  Window  against  it,  by  glancing  into  the  Clianibers  of 
the  Houses  on  the  North  side  of  the  Town-House,  where  two 
or  three  People  were  awake  ;  and  running  to  the  Windows  first 
saw  it  There;  but  it  quickly  broke  into  the  Council  Chamber, 
and  run  up  the  Deal  Wainscot  Stairs  into  the  Loft  and  Lanthorn 
above,  and  set  them  all  in  a  Blaze,  before  the  I'eopla  came  either 
to  manage  the   Engines,   or  save  the  Province  Records,    Books, 


176  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

Papers,  Planx.  Pictures,  or  anything  else  in  the  Chambers  or 
Apartments,  to  the  inestimable  Loss  of  the  Produce. 

"  But  thro'  the  Mercy  of  GOD  the  County  Records  under  the 
WeUem  Staircase  below  and  Part  of  the  Province  Records  under 
the  Eastern  iStaircase  below,  as  also  Copies  of  the  Minutes 
OF  Council  from  the  Beginning  to  1737,  being  at  the  Secre- 
tary's dwelling  House  are  happily  saved. 

"  In  the  Cellars  which  were  hired  by  several  Persons,  a  great 
Quantity  of  Wines  and  otlier  Liquors,  were  lost,  to  the  amount  of 
several  Thousand  Pounds.  The  Vehemence  of  the  Flames  oc- 
casion'd  such  a  great  Heat  as  to  set  the  Roofs  of  some  of  the 
opposite  Houses  on  Fire,  notwithstanding  they  had  been  cov- 
ered with  Snow,  and   were   extinguished  with   much  Difficulty. " 


APPENDIX  K. 


BILL    FOR    PAINTING    THE    STATE    HOUSE,    1773. 

The  following  interesting  doeument  is  printed  from  the  original  in  the 
coUecliun  of  Mellen  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  of  the  Boston  Public  Lil)rary :  — 
1773.  Province  Massachusetts  B.iy  to  Tho».  Crafts,  Jun.  Dr. 

To  painting  State  House,  Viz. 

To  paints  Council  Chamber  Loby,  &c.,  402  yards  @  9''.,  15..   1..  6 

To  Ditto  Representatives  Ditto,  4 L'6  yards  @  9^.,  15. .19..  C 

To  my  self  &  2  hands,  2  Days  and  half,  t.aking  down  &   ~) 
putting  up   Picturs   in  Council  &  Representatives    V  1 . .  1 7 . .  6 

Chambers  @  5/,  J 

To  painting  &  Gilding  Kings  Arms, 

To  Ditto  Ditto  Colonies  D", 

To  Ditto  CodDsh, 

To  Ditto  &  Gilding  Dial,  East  End, 

To  Ditto  Bricks  as  p'  Agreement, 

To  Ditto  lower  floor,  p"^  Ditto, 

To  Ditto  Stair  Cases,  208  yards,  @  d*., 
May  To  4  Hands,  Cleaning  &  scraping  D°.,  1  day  @  5/, 
25th  To  painting  Belcony  &  Pedetnint  over  it,  80  yards  (S  W., 

To  Ditto  10  Lutlierin  Windows  @  8/, 

To  Ditto  8  Cants,  30  yards  @  lO-i., 


10. 

.  0. 

.  0 

4. 

.  0. 

.  0 

0. 

.15. 

.•!. 

.10. 

.  0 

47. 

.  0.. 

.  0 

14. 

.   7 . 

.  4 

7- 

.10. 

.   0 

1. 

.   0. 

.  0 

3. 

.   (3 . 

.   8 

4. 

.  0., 

.  0 

1. 

.  5.. 

.  0 

APPENDIX  L.  177 


To  Ditto  2  Carved  Corner  Pieces, 

To  Ditto  Lyon  &  Unicorn, 

To  Ditto  3  Pediments  over  Doors,  80  yards  @  10*., 

To  Ditto  Hi  Window  frames,  very  Dry,  @  4/, 

To  Ditto  U42  squares  sash  @  12''., 

To  Ditto  i  Ox  Eye  Window  frames  @  1/, 

To  Ditto  Mondilion  Cornisli  outside,  IGO  yards  @  ID*., 

To  Ditto  Trunks,  50  Yards  @  10'»., 

To  writing  Gold  Letters  over  Doors, 

To   2  Hands   half  day,  bringing  Picturs  from  Gov"  & 

pun?  up, 
To  painti^  2  Doz  Draws, 

To  Ditto  Rails  down  front  Steps,  4  hands  2  days, 
To  cleaning  Gov  Burnets  Picture  &  Gilds  frame, 


1. 

.  0.. 

.  0 

1. 

.  8.. 

.  0 

1. 

.  5.. 

.  0 

10. 

.10., 

.  0 

12. 

.  0.. 

.  4 

0. 

.  4.. 

.   0 

6. 

.13., 

.  4 

2. 

.   1. 

.  8 

12., 

.  0 

5., 

.  0 

4., 

.  0 

3. 

.  C, 

.  0 

1. 

.16., 

£171..  3. .10 
60  yards  painting  short  charg*  @  9*.,  2 . .  5 . .  0 


£173..  8..  10 


APPEI^DIX  L. 


GIFTS    BY  THE   STATE, 

By  chapter  47  of  the  Resolves  of  the  Legislature,  approved  June 
2,  1883,  it  was 

'■'•  Resolced,  That  the  Governor  and  Council  be,  and  they  are 
hereby,  authorized  to  transfer  to  the  City  of  Boston  any  old  fur- 
niture or  other  articles  used  in  or  identified  with  the  Old  State 
House." 

Acting  on  this  authority  the  old  table  formerly  in  use  by  the 
Goveinor  and  Council  was  transferred  to  the  old  building.  The 
following  letter  accompanied  the  gift :  — 

COMMONWEALTH   OF   MASSACHUSETTS. 

EiECUTivE  Department, 

Boston,  Dec.  8,  1883. 

To  the  City  of  Boston  :  —  At  the  request  of  the  City  of  Boston,  through  its 
proper  officers  placed  in  charge  of  the  "  Old  State  House,"  and  with  the  ad- 


178  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  EE-DEDICATION. 

vice  iind  consent  of  the  Council,  I  have  sent  herewith,  to  be  preserved  in  that 
buililing,  by  the  custodians,  tlic  table  of  the  Executive  Council  before  the 
Kuvolution,  which  was  removed  to  the  State  House,  and  kept  in  the  use  of 
the  Council,  during  the  occupation  of  the  present  State  House,  beginning  from 
the  opening  of  the  present  century.  After  a  careful  examination  of  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Executive  Department,  and  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
I  believe  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  verity  of  the  table  returned  herewith, 
excepting  only  change  because  of  repairs. 

BEN  J.   F.  BUTLER, 

Oovernor. 
[seal]  Witness  the  Seal  of  the  Commonwealth, 

HENRY   B.   PEIRCE, 

Secretary. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  table  was  in  use  in  the  old  building, 
as  the  records  show  repeated  repairs  upon  it,  but  no  purchase  of  a 
new  table,  until  recently,  when  the  one  in  use  wns  Itought.  Its 
framework  is  very  old,  though  tiie  top  is  more  recent.  The  centre 
is  made  of  black- walnut,  and  on  that  account  its  age  was  ques- 
tioned. Investigation,  however,  showed  that  the  use  of  this  wood 
for  ornamental  furniture  dates  back  at  least  to  the  middle  of  the 
last  century. 

The  State  officials  also  sent  various  old  chairs,  a  portion  of  the 
old  chandelier,  a  secretary,  and  a  case  for  papers  or  books  inscribed, 
"  The  Gift  of  Isaac  Royal,  Esq"^  of  Charles-Town." 


APPENDIX  M. 


NOTES  ON  THE  OLD   STATE  HOUSE. 
By  George  H.  Moore,  LL.D. 

[On  May  12,  1885,  George  H.  Moore,  LL.D.,  the  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Lenox  Library,  New  York,  delivered  the  followiDg 
Address  before  the  Bostonian  Society.  As  the  numerous  valuable 
additions  to  the  history  of  the  building  so  patiently  and  thoroughly 


APPENDIX   M.  179 

collected  by  him  could  not  easily  be  incorporated  in  the  text,  and 
as  such  a  course  would  not  do  justice  to  his  work,  his  peimission 
has  been  obtained  to  a  reprint  of  the  pamphlet.  The  original  is 
entitled  "  Prytaneum  Bostoniense  ;  Notes  on  the  History  of  the 
Old  State  House,"  etc.,  etc.  A  few  omissions  have  been  made 
at  the  beginning  and  close,  together  with  a  few  sentences  which  were 
especially  directed  to  the  audience. 

It  has  seemed  best  to  place  Dr.  Moore's  argument  about  the 
shape  of  the  halls  before  the  reader  without  comments.  The  oppo- 
site views  of  the  persons  entrusted  with  the  work  of  reconstructing 
the  building  will  be  given  in  the  following  Appendix,  N.] 


j  HE  time  was  when  Boston  had  a  real  pride  in  its 
Town  House  and  place  of  council,  and  although  its 
simple  structure  and  scanty  decoration  would  never 
compare  with  the  grand  architecture  and  sculpture  of 
the  Hotels-de-Ville  of  the  old  towns  of  Europe,  so 
full  of  precious  meaning  for  all  their  populace,  the  memories 
and  associations  of  the  Old  Town  House  were,  from  an  early 
date,  as  they  continue  to  be,  full  of  significance.  The  homely 
lines  of  the  "  Short  Lamentation,"  elicited  by  the  destruction 
of  the  first  house  in  1711,  make  up  in  sincerity  what  they  lack 
in  poetic  form  and  fire :  — 

"  Our  losing  of  our  Great  Excbange  gives  us  a  fearful  wound, 
Bouie  say  that  few  eucb  chambers  in  our  l^ingdom  can  be  found." 

Tlie  poem  is  a  long  one  and  very  interesting ;  but  this  is  all  which 
relates  to  the  first  Court  House.  A  second  speedily  arose  on 
the  site  of  the  first,  within  whose  ancient  walls  we  now  come 
together,  to  recall  something  of  their  continuing  history  and  the 
changes  that  have  come  into  them  and  passed  through  them  since 
their  solid  and  enduring  lines  were  laid  in  the  substantial  materials 
of  which  they  were  constructed  nearly  two  centuries  ago. 

The  fire  of  December  9th,  1 747,  left  nothing  of  the  second  Court 
House  but  the  bare  walls  ;  and  the  Legislature  which  was  sitting  at 


180  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

the  time  speedily  terminated  the  session,  after  requesting  the 
Selectmen  of  Boston  to  secure  those  wails  from  the  weather  by 
causing  them  to  be  covered  with  boards  in  the  best  and  cheapest 
manner.  They  sat  four  days  after  the  fire,  and  being  then  pro- 
rogued to  the  3d  February,  1748,  met  on  that  day  at  Fancuil 
Hall,  which  had  been  promptly  tendered  by  the  Selectmen  on  the 
day  of  the  fire  for  the  service  of  the  House.  Governor  .Shirley, 
in  his  opening  speech,  duly  reminded  the  General  Court  of  the 
necessity  for  speedy  action  to  repair  or  rebuild  the  Court  House, 
and  a  week  later  the  brisk  debates  commenced,  of  which  the  first 
result  in  the  House  of  Representatives  was  a  resolution  that  a 
Court  House  should  be  built  in  some  other  part  of  the  Province 
than  the  Town  of  Boston,  provided  the  Court  agree  upon  the 
place ;  which  was  immediately  followed  by  a  resolution  that  Cam- 
bridge should  be  the  place. 

On  the  two  following  days,  February  11th  and  12th,  after  a 
good  deal  of  manoeuvring,  the  matter  was  reconsidered,  and  a 
special  committee  was  appointed  to  examine  and  ruport  what  they 
might  apprehend  proper  to  be  done  respecting  the  repairing  the 
late  Court  House  or  building  a  new  house  in  such  place  as  should 
appear  most  convenient.  The  chairman  of  that  committee  was 
the  Speaker  of  the  House,  afterwards  so  conspicuous  in  history 
as  Governor  Hutchinson,  and  I  may  say  at  once  that  it  was  to  him 
more  than  to  any  other  man  that  the  Town  of  Boston  was  indebted 
for  keeping  the  Court  House  there. 

On  the  17th  February  he  reported  to  the  House  that  it  was  the 
opinion  of  the  committee  that  the  late  Court  House  be  repaired ; 
and  that  the  charge  thereof  should  be  borne  agreeably  to  the  last 
establishment:  i.e.,  one  half  by  the  Province,  the  other  half  to  be 
divided  between  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  the  Town  of  Boston. 

After  debate  the  report  was  rejected,  and  by  two  successive 
votes  it  was  resolved  that  the  Court  House  should  not  be  built  in 
any  part  of  Boston,  and  that  it  should  be  built  in  (he  town  of  Rox- 
bury.  Whereupon  a  joint  committee  was  resolved  upon  to  report 
a  proper  place  in  Roxbury  for  the  said  house  and  to  consider  of 
dimensions  as  well  as  the  method  of  providing  its  charge,  and  the 
resolution  was  sent  to  the  Council  for  concurrence,  which  was 
forthwith   refused   by   a   unanimous  vote.     After  further  debate 


APPENDIX    M.  181 

the  House  again  sent  up  the  same  proposition,  substantially,  which 
met  the  same  fate  as  the  former. 

Upon  receiving  information  of  this  result,  on  the  19th  February-, 
the  House  ordered  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject  to  be 
referred  to  the  next  session  of  the  Court. 

On  the  2d  of  March  the  Governor  again  moved  in  the  matter, 
urging  the  present  and  prospective  inconveniences  they  were 
suffering  and  likelj'  to  suffer ;  and  the  House  upon  the  next  day, 
to  which  they  had  postponed  consideration  of  the  Governor's 
Message,  consented  to  reconsider  their  vote  of  delay.  They  then 
took  a  new  departure  by  deciding  that  the  old  house  should  not 
be  repaired,  but  that  a  new  one  should  be  built  in  the  Town  of 
Boston,  and  a  joint  committee  was  appointed  (the  Council  con- 
curring in  this  vote)  to  consider  and  report  on  a  proper  place  in 
that  town. 

Id  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  the  House  was  informed 
by  their  chairman  of  the  joint  committee  that  he  was  directed  to 
propose  to  the  House  that  they  should  go  at  once  to  view  the 
Common  and  Fort  Hill,  and  determine  which  was  the  most  con- 
venient place  to  build  a  new  Court  House  in,  as  the  said  com- 
mittee were  divided  in  their  sentiments  upon  that  affair. 

After  a  debate  the  House  refused  to  accept  the  report,  and 
postponed  the  consideration  of  the  affair  until  the  following 
Wednesday,  the  9th  of  March.  Upon  that  and  the  following 
day  the  result  reached  was  the  determination  to  repair  the  late 
Court  House :  one-half  the  charges  to  be  paid  by  the  Province, 
one-fourth  by  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and  one-fourth  by  the 
Town  of  Boston.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  purchase  ma- 
terials, and  to  prepare  a  plan  of  the  inside  work,  with  an  estimate 
of  the  charge,  to  be  laid  before  the  Court  at  the  next  session. 
The  committee  very  promptly  purchased  a  great  part  of  the 
materials,  and  reported  that  fact  to  the  House  with  their  proposed 
plan,  evidently  to  prevent  any  further  vacillation  on  the  part  of 
the  House.  An  appropriation  was  immediately  proposed,  and 
the  first  grant  for  purchasing  materials  —  £100  —  was  made  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1748,  and  concurred  in  by  the  Council,  with  the 
consent  of  the  Governor,  on  the  following  day. 

The  consideration  of   the   plan   reported   was   then   made   the 


182  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  UE-DEDICATION. 

special  order  for  the  following  Tucsda)-,  April  12tli,  at  three 
o'clock  P.M.,  when,  "  after  a  debate,'"  it  was  adopted. 

It  shonld  be  observed  here  that  this  result  was  precisely  that 
which  was  proposed  in  Speaker  Hutchinson's  first  report  on  the 
subject,  on  the  17th  February. 

Several  attempts  wore  made  afterwards  in  the  House  to  interfere 
with  this  determination ;  but  they  were  unsuccessful,  and  the 
work  was  carried  on  to  completion.  The  only  important  change 
in  the  plan  first  submitted  and  determined  on  was  made  on  the  19th 
November,  1748,  when  a  proposition  by  the  Building  Committee 
to  enlarge  the  Representatives'  Room  in  the  Town  House,  then 
rebuilding,   was  agreed  to  by  the   House. 

This  modification  in  the  plan  by  which  the  Representatives'  Room 
in  the  new  Town  House  was  enlarged  was  an  obvious  necessity.  In 
1728  there  were  128  towns  in  the  Province  capable  of  sending  Rep- 
resentatives, and  in  1748  the  number  had  increased  to  153. 

The  materials  are  scanty  for  the  illustration  of  the  plain  ofHcial 
record  of  the  controversy  between  Boston  and  the  country  partv  on 
this  occasion  ;  but  it  is  apparent  that  the  major  part  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  was  then  averse  to  rebuilding  the  Court  House 
in  Boston,  and  disposed  to  bnild  a  house  for  the  General  Court  iu 
some  town  in  the  country.  The  lines  were  very  strictly  drawn. 
All  the  efforts  of  the  Bostonians  could  not  prevail  for  an  entirely 
new  structure  ;  and  upon  the  test  question  whether  a  grant  should 
be  made  for  rebuilding  the  old  one  the  House  was  equally  divided, 
and  the  Speaker  gave  his  casting  voice  in  favor  of  the  town. 

That  Speaker  was  Thomas  Hutchinson,  who  had  and  continued 
to  "have  still"  (at  a  later  period,  when  he  found  occasion  to 
refer  to  these  transactions)  "  a  very  good  Affection  for  the  Town 
of  Boston."  He  used  his  influence  in  every  way  he  could  with 
propriety,  in  favor  of  rebuilding  the  Court  House  in  Boston.  I 
take  pleasure  in  recalling  these  obscure  facts  respecting  one  of  tha 
most  gifted  of  her  sous,  who  has  had  scant  measure  of  justice  in 
her  history. 

The  proceedings  of  the  anti-Boston  party  in  all  this  matter  to 
which  I  have  referred  were  not  the  first  of  tlieir  kind.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1739,  a  committee  was  appointed  bj'  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives to  consider,  in  the  recess  of  the  Court,  "of  some  proper 


APPENDIX    M.  183 

place  in  some  one  of  the  Country  Towns  of  the  Province  (not  too 
remote  from  Boston)  wherein  to  build  a  Court  House  for  the  use 
of  the  General  Assembly,  that  so  the  public  business  may  be 
attended  to  with  more  ease  and  freedom  of  the  members,  and  be 
transacted  with  greater  dispatch  ;  as  also  to  project  some  proper 
plan  for  the  building,  and  ways  and  means  best  to  effect  it,  and 
make  report  at  the  next  sitting  of  the  Court." 

Accordingly,  on  the  21st  of  April,  1739,  the  committee  reported 

in  favor  of  a  new  Court  House  at ,  and  that  two  acres  of  land 

there  be  purchased  for  a  site.  They  found,  with  the  help  of  their 
arc-hitecis,  that  it  would  cost  about  £5,000,  new  tenor.  They 
presented  two  plans  by  the  architects,  and  gave  their  own  opinion 
that  the  model  should  be  drawn  from  both  of  them  to  suit  the 
Court.  Tliey  proposed  to  raise  the  money  by  an  additional  excise 
of  twopence  per  gallon,  new  tenor,  on  spirituous  liquors  for  the 
space  of  sis  years  to  come ;  any  deficiency  to  be  made  up  by  a 
tax  on  polls  and  estates  the  next  year.  The  debate  which  en- 
sued resulted  iu  a  postponement  to  the  next  Court. 

The  movements  of  the  anti-Boston  party  which  I  have  detailed 
were  not  all  to  which  I  have  to  direct  your  attention.  The  now 
building  was  hardly  completed  before  a  fresh  proposition  for  a 
new  Court  House  was  made  and  determined  upon  by  the  General 
Court. 

Admiral  Sir  Peter  Warren,  in  August,  1749,  offered  to  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts  as  a  present  the  money  he  received 
as  commissioner  for  handling  the  money  due  for  the  Cape  Breton 
Expedition.  It  was  a  handsome  sum,  and  the  Admiral  conveyed 
with  his  offer  an  intimation  of  his  wishes  respecting  its  use  by  tiie 
Province.  The  intimation  was  disregarded,  and  the  following 
proceedings  took  [)Uice  in  the  General  Court:  — 

"On  February  19th,  1751,  Voted,  That  a  Letter  of  Thanks  from 
this  Court  for  so  generous  a  Benefaction  (signed  by  the  Sec- 
retary) be  sent  to  that  Gentleman,  and  to  inform  him:  That 
in  order  to  perpetuate  his  Memory  among  us  ;  It  is  the  Determi- 
nation of  this  Court,  that  said  Money  be  applied  towards  the 
building  a  Court  House  in  some  Place  out  nf  the  Town  of  Boston, 
and  where  this  Court  may  hereafter  appoint. 

"  On  February  19th  a  vote  of  Council  was  brought  down  to  dele 


184  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

the  whole  paragraph  respecting  the  building  a  Court  House  to 
perpetuate  his  Memory,  &c.  The  House  made  a  further  Ameud- 
ment  that  tlie  said  House  be  erected  in  the  Tonm  of  Cambridge 
and  adhered  to  their  own  vote  as  so  amended,  which  was  sent  up 
for  concurrence. 

"On  February  22d  the  Council  concurred  in  the  Vote  for  a  Court 
House,  at  Cambridge,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  signed  it,  &c., 
and  on  tlie  same  day  a  letter  was  authorized  liy  both  branches, 
fomraunicatiug  '  the  Determination  of  the  Court,  that  the  Build- 
ing proposed  to  be  erected  shall  always  be  known  and  called  by 
the  name  of  WARREN  HALL.'" 

The  generous  and  sensible  Admiral  did  not  acquiesce  in  this 
extraordinary  proposition,  which  therefore  failed;  and  Cam- 
bridge, like  other  towns  "  not  too  far  from  Boston,"  did  not  have 
the  Court  House.  I  find  a  remark  of  "  the  good  Secretary " 
Willard,  who  conducted  the  correspondence  in  behalf  of  the 
General  Court,  which  deserves  quotation.  He  writes  to  the 
Admiral:  "As  their  project  for  a  Court  House  was  much  dis- 
liked liy  the  wisest  and  most  disinterested  men,  so  the  employ- 
ment of  the  money  for  the  Instruction  of  the  Mohawk  Children, 
as  you  liave  designed  it,  is  I  believe  generally  much  approved  of." 

Nor  are  these  I  have  noticed  all  the  instances  of  the  disposition 
of  a  strong  party  in  the  Legislature  to  take  the  Court  House  out 
of  Boston.  The  subject  was  revived  in  1754,  when,  on  the  18th 
December,  it  was  "  Ordered,  That  the  House  will  take  under  con- 
sideration the  affair  of  removing  the  Court  House  out  of  the  Town 
of  Boston,  to-morrow  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

"December  19th.  The  House,  according  to  order,  took  under 
consideration  the  affair  of  removing  the  Court  House  out  of  tlie 
Town  of  Boston;  and  after  a  Debate  had  i hereon,  the  question 
was  put,  '  Whether  there  shall  be  erected  a  Court  IIou>e  out  of  the 
Town  of  Boston?'  "     And  it  passed  in  tlie  affinriative. 

"And  thereupon  iJesoZfccZ,  That  there  shall  be  a  Court  House 
erected  for  the  holding  the  General  Assembly  of  tliis  Province  in 
some  part  of  the  town  of  Watertown.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

"  It  was  also  further 

"  Ordered,  That  Col.  Brattle,  Jlr.  John  Hunt,  and  Judge  Hus- 
sell,  with  such  as  the  Honorable   Board  join,  be  a  Committee  to 


APPENDIX    M.  185 

repair  to  the  Town  of  Watertowu  to  pitch  upon  a  convenient 
Place  whereon  to  erect  a  Court  House  for  the  holding  of  tlio  Geri 
eral  Assemhly  of  this  Province,  inquire  at  what  price  tlie  land 
suitable  for  said  Building  and  its  accommodations  may  be  had, 
prepare  a  plan  of  tho  Building  proposed,  and  report  thereon  to  this 
Court  as  soon  as  may  bo.     ISenl  up  for  concurrence. 

"  January  4th,  17.55.  Upon  inquiry  by  the  House,  their  messen- 
ger was  informed  that  the  Boaid  had  non-concurred  in  the  vote 
respecting  a  Court  House.  " 

The  hist  of  the  series  of  propositions  of  this  sort  which  I  have 
to  mention  was  in  1787,  June  16th,  when  another  effort  to  remove 
the  seat  of  government  from  this  town  w:is  made ;  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed,  who  reported  in  favor  of  Concord,  as  a  suitable 
place  for  a  new  Capitol. 

The  political  year  1749-50  was  that  in  which  the  Court  House, 
which  had  been  rebuilt  in  fact  upon  and  in  the  old  walls  of  its  pre- 
decessor, was  reoccupied.  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the 
exact  date,  but  a  contemporary  statement  is,  that  on  the  13th 
July,  1749,  the  repairs  were  near Ij' finished,  and  the  Commissioners 
on  the  Land  Bank  were  to  meet  in  a  room  there  on  the  lOth  of 
that  month. 

The  first  story  was  devoted  as  before  to  the  uses  of  a  public  Ex- 
change. Two  ofBces  were  provided  on  that  floor,  of  which  the 
Eastern  office  was  duly  assigned  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court,  and  the  Western  was  occupied  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Province.  These  ofl3ces  were  on  the  northern  side  of  the  build- 
ing. A  range  of  Doric  pillars,  ten  in  number,  which  supported 
the  second  floor  and  superstructure,  gave  a  certain  dignity  to  the 
open  space  where  the  merchants  most  did  congregate. 

The  access  to  the  second  floor  was  by  two  staircases,  known  as 
the  Eastern  and  Western  staircases,  and  leading  to  the  passages 
between  the  central  chamber  and  the  other  two  chambers  respect- 
ively on  the  second  floor.  There  was  undoubtedl}^  an  entry-wa}' 
and  a  convenient  lobby  in  each.  The  three  chambers  were  the 
Council  Chamber  at  the  eastern  end,  the  Representatives'  Cham- 
ber in  the  centre,  and  the  Court  Chamber  at  the  western  end. 
Of  these  the  Representatives'  Chamber  was  undoubtedly  the 
largest  from  the  first  and,  as  we  shall  see,  it  was  subsequently  still 


186  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   EE-DEDICATION. 

further  enlarged.  No  such  division  of  the  space  on  the  second  floor 
as  the  present  existed  at  any  time  durimj  the  official  use  of  the  build- 
ing by  the  Legislature,  Colonial,  Provincial,  Beiolutionury,  or 
State.  During  the  entire  Colonial  and  Provincial  periods  there 
were  three  chambers  or  apartments  which  I  liavc  mentioned,  witli 
their  respective  lobbies,  and  at  least  two  entries.  The  great  in- 
crease in  tlie  number  of  representatives  demanding  more  room  for 
the  House  during  the  Revohilion,  the  Representatives'  Chamber 
was  enlarged  by  taking  in  the  Court  Chamber,  the  Council 
Chamber  still  remaining  the  same ;  and  when  the  State  Govern- 
ment was  organized  the  Senate  took  possession  of  it,  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  being  obliged  to  find  quarters  in  Ihe  Province 
House,  where  were  also  kept  at  that  time  the  offices  of  the  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  building  was  left  for  several  years  in 
an  unfinished  state,  and  only  gradually  brought  into  use.  I  think 
there  were  two  rooms  at  the  respective  Eastern  and  Western  ends, 
which  may  have  been  provided  at  first ;  for,  on  the  14th  February, 
1756,  "  the  Room  in  the  Upper  Story  at  the  "West  End  of  the 
Court  House"  was  duly  appropriated  by  an  order  of  Court  to  the 
use  of  committees  dnring  the  time  of  the  Court's  sitting.  And  on 
the  27th  August  in  the  same  j-ear  an  order  passed  the  House, 
that  the  members  for  the  Town  of  Boston  be  directed  to  cause  one 
or  more  chambers  in  the  upper  story  on  the  south  side  of  the  Court 
House  to  be  finished  for  the  accommodation  of  committees  of  the 
General  Court. 

The  Town  of  Boston  also  seems  to  have  enjoj-ed  additional 
benefits  besides  their  public  walk  and  exchange  on  the  first  floor, 
by  the  assignment  of  one  of  those  first  upper  chambers  for  use  by 
their  oflScials.  This  appears  from  the  following  proceedings  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  on  the 

'•  21st  Jan.  1761.  Inasmuch  as  the  Select-lMen  of  (he  Town  of 
Boston  sit  to  do  business  in  their  Easternmost  upper  chamber  of  the 
Court  House,  and  the  Small-Pox  frequently  breaking  out  neces- 
sitates those  Persons  in  whose  Houses  it  is  at  first  discovered,  as 
well  as  many  of  the  Physicians  in  tlie  Town,  to  attend  them ;  this 
House  apprehend  it  unsafe  for  such  persons  to  pass  and  repass  the 
Door  of  this  House.     Therefore, 


APPENDIX    M.  187 

"  Voted,  That  said  Select-Men  be  desired  to  remove  their  oflSce 
fiom  said  Chamber,  and  provide  themselves  with  some  other 
suitable  place,  at  the  Charge  of  the  GovernmeDt,  during  the  present 
Sitting  of  this  Court." 


During  the  administration  of  Governor  Pownall  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  Province  upon  the  conquest  of  C:inada  induced  the  Legisla- 
ture to  vote  a  statue  to  the  memory  of  General  Wolfe,  which  was 
to  have  been  erected  at  the  east  end  of  the  Town  House,  in  King 
street.  It  is  said  that  Pownall's  enemies  displayed,  with  con- 
siderable success,  to  the  minds  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature, 
the  enormous  expense  to  the  Province  of  the  monument  to  Lord 
Howe,  which  had  cost  £2i)0.  The  project  fell  through,  and  it  has 
been  said  that  if  Governor  Pownall  had  remained  longer  it  would 
have  been  a  powerful  instrument  for  destroying  his  popularity. 
Powuall  went  to  South  Carolina  in  June,  1760,  after  two  years' 
residence  in  Massachusetts. 

The  tradition  is  also  preserved  of  another  proposition  to  deco- 
rate the  vicinity  of  the  Town-House.  A  writer  in  one  of  the 
magazines,  many  years  ago,  said:  "In  some  old  pamphlet  we 
recollect  a  proposal  to  erect  an  equestrian  statue  of  the  '  glorious 
King  William'  in  front  of  the  Town  House,  looking  down  King 
street.  It  would  have  been  pleasant  to  have  had  an  historic 
monument,  of  any  kind,  in  that  street  of  historic  recollections. 
Even  the  Whig  monarch,  however,  would  hardly  have  kept  his 
saddle  through  the  Revolution,  though  himself  a  Revolutionary 
King." 

The  chambers  were  all  plain  in  construction,  and  their  fittings 
and  furniture  simple  in  character,  with  probably  hardly  a  toucii  of 
extravagance  anywhere. 

The  Council  Chamber  was  furnished  with  a  large  table  and 
chairs,  and  one  or  more  glazed  bookcases  stood  in  the  room,  in 
which  were  preserved  with  care  some  valuable  books  which  had 
been  presented  by  liberal  citizens  and  friends  of  the  Province, 
among  whicii  I  mny  mention  the  Hon.  Beuj.  Lynde's  gift  of  tlie 
Statutes  at  Large,  in  six  volumes  folio,  for  the  use  of  the  Courts  of 
Common  Law  sitting  in  this  House,  as  well  as  the  Legislature ; 


188  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

and  a  complete  set  of  the  History  and  Proceedings  of  the  Honses 
of  Lords  and  Commons  from  the  Reign  of  King  Charles  the  II., 
viz. :  eight  volumes  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Lords  and  fourteen 
of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Commons,  from  Isaac  Royal,  Esq.,  of 
Charlestown. 

The  Royal  Arms,  also,  which  were  subsequently  removed  and 
carried  to  St.  John,  N.B.,  where  they  now  decorate  a  church, 
must  have  been  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  Chamber.  With 
reference  to  this  subject  and  anotbei'  intimately  connected  with  it, 
as  will  appear,  I  think  30U  will  pardon  me  if  I  go  back  a  little  to 
recall  a  few  memories  of  the  fii-st  and  second  Town  Houses,  which 
were  burned. 

As  early  as  May  25,  1636,  or  during  the  May  session  of  the 
General  Court,  it  was  ordered  that  in  "  places  of  judicature,  the 
King's  ma""  armes  slialbe  erected  soe  sone  as  tlisy  can  be  hadd." 
{3fass.  Records,  175.)  But,  notwithstanding  this  "  order  for  ye 
King's  armes  to  be  set  up,"  it  is  not  piobable  that  they  were  "  to 
be  hadd  "  in  that  jurisdiction  for  a  long  time  afterward,  or  tliat 
they  soon  became  visible  in  the  high  places  of  judgment. 

It  was  not  until  1G78,  when  the  agents  of  the  General  Court 
were  struggling  against  their  enemies  at  Court  and  warding  off  the 
blows  levelled  at  their  chai'ter,  that  the}-  were  compelled  to  show 
their  recognition  of  the  royal  autliority  bj'  taking  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance and  exhibiting  the  ensigns  armorial  of  England  in  tlieir  hall 
of  assembly.  The  records  state  that  "  the  King's  armes  also  the 
Court  have  ordered  to  be  forthwith  carved  by  an  able  artist  and 
erected  in  the  Court  House."  I  suppose  this  is  all  we  can  hope  to 
know  about  the  arras  or  the  artist. 

But,  in  1705,  we  come  upon  nearer  and  a  little  surer  ground. 
Governor  Dudley,  in  a  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  March  10, 
1705,  quoted  by  Palfrey,  iv.,  295,  note,  says :  — 

"  I  have  received  her  Majesty's  picture  and  coat-of-arms.  The 
arms  were  the  nest  day  fixed  in  the  Council  Chamber  of  this 
Province  .  .  .  Her  Majesty's  picture  I  have  set  np  in  my 
own  house,  where  it  is  always  in  the  view  of  all  masters  of  sea, 
strangers,  and  others  who  arc  bound  to  make  their  attendance, 
and  where  the  counsellors  and  gentlemen  of  the  country  frequently 
are." 


APPENDIX    M.  189 

I  have  not  discovered  how  long  Dudley  kept  the  queen's  por- 
trait at  his  own  house  in  Roxbiiry  ;  but  it  was  placed  in  the  Town 
House,  where  it  belonged  before  the  fire  in  1711,  in  which  that 
house  was  destroyed.  The  Royal  Picture  Gallery  thus  seems  to 
have  had  its  origin  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne.  Chalmers  states 
that  Queen  Anne  gave  her  portrait  to  eveiy  colony,  and  more 
than  intimates  a  degree  of  churlishness  in  Massachusetts  on  its  re- 
ception there.  "  A  trivial  fact  throws  additional  light  on  the 
temper  of  that  assembl)'  [1706-7]:  they  refused  to  address  the 
queen,  in  return  for  her  portrait,  wherewith  she  had  honored 
every  colony,  though  the  coinplinient,  demanded  by  the  civility  of 
a  woman,  far  less  the  respect  due  to  the  condescension  of  their 
sovereign,  had  impugned  no  privilege,  had  imposed  no  duty,  had 
enforced  no  act  of  Parliament."  —  Iniroduclion  to  the  History  of 
the  Colonies,  310. 

This  portrait  escaped  destruction  in  the  great  fire  of  1711,  in 
which  "  the  Town  House  and  the  Meeting  House,  with  many  fair 
Buildings  were  consumed,  and  several  Persons  Kill'd  and  burn'd. 
Some  Gentlemen  took  care  to  preserve  Her  Majesty's  Picture  thai 
was  in  the  Town  House."  —  Boston  News  Letter,  No.  390,  October 
1-8,  1711. 

I  have  met  with  no  record  of  the  fate  of  the  portraits  of  the 
queen  sent  to  other  colonies.  Only  among  the  archives  of  Vir- 
ginia, indeed,  have  I  as  yet  found  any  notice  whatever  of  so  con- 
spicuous and  interesting  a  gift.  This  appears  in  the  shape  of  a 
bill  of  charges  from  the  attorneys  of  Col.  Francis  Nicholson,  then 
Governor,  for  expenses  in  England  attending  the  gift.  The^'  are 
embodied  in  an  "  Account  of  the  charges  for  Obtaining  the 
Queen's  Picture  and  Queen's  Armes,  with  two  Carved  guilt 
Frames,  for  her  Majestie's  Province  of  Virginia. 

170§    For  an  order  of  Couneill  for  the  Picture         .         .£2126 

p*  for  a  Copy  to  Com''  of  Trade  ....  5 

For  ditto  for  Queen's  Armes  to  L*  Marshall           .  2  12  6 

p*  for  a  Copy  to  Com"  of  Trade   ....  5 

1703     For  y=  L"  Chambcrlaiue's  3  Warr"  to  S'^  G.  Kueller  I  2     3 
April   20th  L'*  Montague  &  her  Maj''''  Frame  Maker      i 

p*  Clerk's  Fees 15 


190  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  EE-DEDICATION. 

p*  Chamber  Keeper 2  6 

June   9th  p*  Foes  at  Treasury  for  Counter  Signeing  L^ 

Chamberlaiue's  War'  for  2  Arms,  Etc.,  En"-'*     .         17  G 
July   5th  p*  gave  S'  G.  Kneller's  chief  man  Mr.  Bland, 
Clerk  at  y°  wardrobe,  framemaker's  Serv'  w"" 
Cartage,  I'orters,  and  Boat  hyrc  to  Key    .         .     2         " 

It  is  fair  to  say  that  these  charges,  amouutiug  in  all  to  eleven 
pounds  and  thirteen  shillings,  on  l)eing  submitted  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Virginia,  were  refused  payment,  and  the  claim  was  "re- 
jected as  being  no  Country-  charge."  It  is  painful  to  observe 
that  if  the  sons  of  the  cavaliers  were  not  more  liberal  with  their 
thanks  than  with  their  money  Mr.  Chalmers  might  have  in- 
cluded them  in  the  rebuke  he  recorded  for  the  men  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Before  tiie  year  1739  the  galhiry  had  been  enriched  by  the 
addition  of  the  portraits  of  King  George  the  First  and  King 
George  the  Second,  together  with  those  of  tlie  then  late  Queeu 
Caroline'  and  the  Princess  Sophia.'  In  June,  1739,  the  Province 
ordered  copies  of  the  pictures  of  King  William  and  (Jueen  Mary, 
of  glorious  Memory,  to  be  procured  b}'  their  agent  iu  England  from 
the  best  originals  that  can  be  found  at  full  length,  in  order  for  their 
being  set  up  iu  the  Council  Chamber  with  the  pictures  of  Iheir 
Majesties'  Royal  Successors.  The  resolution  did  not  omit  to  com- 
memorate the  fact  that  it  was  iu  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of 
William  and  Mary  that  "His  Majesty's  good  Subjects  of  this 
Province  were  happilj-  incorporated  by  the  present  Royal  Charter." 

The  first  Town  House  also  contained  the  beginnings  of  the  first 
public  library  iu  America,  for  which  provision  was  made  in  its 
original  foundation  by  Capt.  Robert  Keayne  directing  "  a  conven- 
ient room  for  a  library."  Occasional  notices  may  be  found  of  this 
Library,  showing  that  it  had  b.'cn  established  or  begun ;  and 
when  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire,  in  1711,  portions  of  it 
appear  to  have  been  saved,  for  when  the  new  house  was  completed. 


^  Queen  Caroline,  of  BranJenburg  Anspacb.  b.  1682,  d.  1737,  wife  of  George  II.  ia  1705, 
and  KraudmoUier  of  George  III. 

"  Princess  Sopbia,  sister  of  Georgo  U.,  wife  of  Frederic  WilUain  I.,  of  Prussia,  and  motbcr 
of  Frederic  Ibe  Great. 


APPENDIX    M.  191 

in  1713,  the  public  were  duly  advised  by  advertisement  to  the 
effect  that  "  All  persons  that  have  in  their  keeping,  or  can  give 
Notice  of  any  of  the  Town  Library  ;  or  other  things  belonging  to 
the  Town  House  in  Boston  before  the  late  lire,  are  desired  to 
inform  the  Treasurer  of  the  said  Town  thereof,  in  order  to  their 
being  returned."  —  Boston  News  Letter,  No.  477,  June  1-8,  1713. 

I  have  met  with  few  notices  of  the  Library  in  connection  with 
the  second  Town  House,  and  if  any  part  was  restored  to  that 
building,  it  must  have  perished  in  the  fire  of  1747,  with  all  "  the 
pictures  of  the  Kings  and  Queens"  which  I  have  mentioned. 

In  the  new  Court  House — as  in  its  predeces'^or — the  Council 
Chamber  was  the  Picture-Room  of  the  Provincial  Capitol.  Presi- 
dent -John  Adams's  distinct  recollection  and  graphic  description  of 
it  in  his  old  age  needs  little  addition,  oven  in  the  inventory  of 
the  paintings.  His  glowing  memories  of  the  portraits  of  King 
Charles  II.  and  King  James  II.  in  the  account  of  Otis's  argument 
against  the  Writs  of  Assistance  in  1761  are  supplemented  by  his 
notice  of  the  later  triumph  of  Samuel  Adams  in  1770,  in  which  he 
condemns  the  little  miserable  likenesses  of  Gov.  Wiuthrop,  Gov. 
Bradstreet,  Gov.  Endicott,  and  Gov.  Belcher,  hung  up  in  obscure 
coiners  of  the  room.  Some  of  them  met  with  a  deplorable  fate, 
first  at  the  hands  of  the  Tory  and  British  mob,  and  afterwards, 
doubtless,  from  the  iconoclastic  zeal  of  the  patriots.  A  proclama- 
tion by  Gen.  Howe,  March  14,  1776,  three  days  before  the  evacua- 
tion, directed  among  other  things  against  depredations  committed 
in  the  Town  House,  mentions  the  cutting  and  defacing  the  pictures 
of  the  king  and  queen,  as  wcU  as  the  destruction  of  records  and 
other  pictures.  The  pictuies,  however,  of  Winthrop,  Endicott, 
Leverett,  Bradstreet,  and  Burnet —  which  now  hang  in  the  Senate 
Chamber  —  are  undoubtedly  the  same  so  contemptuously  described 
by  John  Adams.  They  must  have  been  at  a  serious  disadvantage 
side  by  side  with  the  full  lengths  of  the  kings  in  all  tlieir  gorgeous 
array ;  for,  with  every  disposition  to  admire  them  as  monuments 
of  the  past,  the  lovers  of  high  art  in  portraiture  must  be  a  little 
shaky  in  their  presence,  even  at  this  late  day. 

I  have  notes  of  description,  made  by  an  intelligent  and  observ- 
ing stranger  in  1769.  lie  says  of  the  ''  decorations  "  at  the  Town 
House  :  "  Zn  the  Council  Chamber  the  pictures  of  Charles  the  2d  ; 


192  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

James  the  2d ;  and  George  the  2d,  at  full  length,  and  the  copies 
of  the  pictures  of  Governor  "Winthrop,  Governor  Endicott,  Gov- 
ernor Leverett,  Governor  Bradstreet,  Governor  Burnet,  and  the 
picture  three-quarters  of  Governor  Pownall.  In  the  Itepresenta- 
lives'  Room,  the  picture  of  Admiral  Russell,  betwi'xt  the  windows 
above  the  Spealcer's  chair.  There  is  carved  above  the  door  the 
ancient  arms  of  the  Province,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  ceiling  hangs 
a  carved  wooden  codfish,  Emblem  of  the  staple  of  Commodities  of 
the  Province." 

The  Representatives'  Chamber  was  similar  to  its  neighboring 
apartment  on  the  East,  but  provided  with  wooden  seats  or 
benches  for  the  members,  arranged  on  the  sides  of  the  room.  In 
1773  an  order  was  made  to  provide  cushions  for  these  seatj.  The 
Speaker's  chair  was  on  the  southern  side,  and  in  front  of  him  was 
"  the  table,"  at  which  the  Clerk  only  was  also  permitted  to  sit.  A 
disposition  seems  to  have  been  manifested  on  the  part  of  some- 
body to  encroach  on  this  reservation,  for  the  second  of  the 
Rules  and  Orders  to  be  observed  in  the  House  of  Representation 
in  1775  and  in  1777  expressly  declares  that  "  No  Person  shall  sit 
at  the  Table,  except  the  Speaker  and  Clerk."  I  fear  that  the 
Speaker's  Desk,  so  carefully  preserved  in  the  Cabinet  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Historical  Society,  aud  so  adn)iral)ly  copied  in  fac-simile 
for  the  other  room,  will  have  to  be  refericd  to  a  very  late  (if  any) 
period  of  the  legislative  occupation  of  this  building. 

"  The  Boston  seat"  must  be  specially  noticed  here.  From  the 
beginning  of  legislation  under  the  Province  Charter  Boston  was 
entitled  to  four  representatives,  twice  as  many  as  any  other  town, 
and  '•  the  Boston  seat"  played  an  important  part  in  everything 
that  was  done.  It  never  failed  to  exercise  a  full  share  of  influence 
in  the  Plouse,  which  became  more  aud  more  conspicuous  as  the 
era  of  the  Revolution  came  on. 

It  is  very  evident  that  "the  Boston  seat"  was  a  front  seat; 
and  I  have  reason  to  conclude  that  it  was  actually  in  the  central 
division  of  benches  on  the  noi  th  side  of  the  chamber,  directly  in 
front  of  the  Speaker.  It  was  known  and  recognized  from  an  early 
date,  and  "  the  gentlemen  of  the  Boston  seat,"  or  "the  members 
of  the  Boston  seat,"  are  frequently  mentioned  as  being  charged 
with  special  services  and  duties. 


APPENDIX    M.  193 

It  seems  to  have  been  the  only  monopoly  of  thu  kind,  and  I  can 
recall  but  one  instance  of  an  attempt  to  invade  it.  On  the 30th  of 
May,  1754,  the  question  was  put,  whether  any  particular  seat  in 
the  House  should  be  assigned  to  the  members  of  the  towns  of 
Plymouth  and  Salem.  The  presumptuous  ambition  of  those  towns, 
however,  was  checked  at  once  bj-  a  vote  in  the  negative. 

The  earliest  decoration  of  which  I  have  any  certain  date  in  the 
Eepiesentatives'  Chamber  was  a  branch  of  candlesticks  for  its 
service  and  ornament,  which  was  offered  by  Isaac  Roval,  of 
Charlestown,  and  accepted  with  the  thanks  of  the  House  on  the 
23d  April,  1748,  immediately  after  the  determination  to  rebuild  the 
House.  A  subsequiMit  reference  to  it  by  John  Adams  not  only 
assures  us  that  Mr.  Royal's  liberal  intention  was  carried  out,  but 
that  it  was  a  "  brass  branch  of  candlesticks,"  which  was  duly  put 
in  place,  directly  over  the  table  of  the  Speaker  and  Clerk. 

In  1750  the  ancient  Arms  of  the  Colony,  carved  with  great  care 
and  pains  by  Moses  Deshon,  who  also  gilded  and  painted  the 
same,  were  put  up  in  the  House,  "  over  the  door."  The  artist 
was  the  same  who  had  executed  for  the  town,  a  few  years  before, 
the  Faneuil  Arms,  elegantly  carved  and  gilt,  to  be  fixed  in  Faneuil 
Hall.  Tlie  consideration  (for  which  he  appears  to  have  waited 
more  than  twoj'ears),  finally  voted  by  the  House,  for  the  Colony 
Arms,  was  six  pounds,  thirteen  shillings  and  fourpence. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  these  ancient  arms  of  the  Colony  were 
those  which,  in  a  modified  form,  were  reproduced  in  the  Arms  of 
the  Commonwealth  in  1780.  That  Indian  has  a  liistory.  He  is 
the  survival  of  the  original  figure  in  the  centre  of  the  Colony  Seal 
and  Arms. 

A  decoration  of  the  Representatives'  Chamber,  much  more  inter- 
esting to  me  than  any  other  I  shall  mention,  was  undoubtedly 
added  at  an  early  day,  but  I  regret  to  say  that  I  have  been  unable 
to  fix  the  date  of  its  first  appearance.  I  dare  say  many  of  you 
will  anticipate  me,  as  I  thus  refer  to  what  has  been  been  called 
♦'  the  historic  codfish." ' 


1  The  earliest  official  recognition  of  the  codfish  I  have  met  with  ia  iu  the  proclaraatlou  of 
Governor  Shirlej',  Getting  forth  the  etarapa  to  he  used  underlhe  Provincial  Stamp  Act  of  1755, 
in  which  the  device  for  the  twopenny  ritamp  was  "  a  Codjish  with  a  Motto  iji  ihe  Ring 
[round  i  ]  <n  these  worda,  Staple  of  xaB  Massachusetts. '* 


194  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   RE-DEDICATION. 

Tlie  earliest  notice  I  have  of  this  interesting  feature  of  the  inte- 
rior of  the  old  Court  House  is  that  of  the  intelligent  stranger  who 
visited  the  building  in  17G9,  and,  among  other  notes  to  which  I 
have  had  occasion  to  refer,  he  says,  "  In  the  middle  of  the  ceiling 
hangs  a  carved  wooden  codfish,  Emblem  of  the  staple  of  Commodi- 
ties of  the  Province." 


The  same  authority  which  I  have  quoted  respecting  the  place  of 
the  Colony  Arms  and  the  Codfish,  also  mentions  the  fact  that  the 
picture  of  Admiral  Russell  w:is  between  the  windows  above  the 
Speaker's  chair.  I  must  confess  that  I  should  have  been  less 
surprised  if  it  had  been  a  picture  of  Admiral  Warren,  althougli  I 
have  met  with  no  notice  of  either  having  at  any  time  been  procured 
by  order  of  the  General  Court.  Future  researches  may  show  how 
it  was  that  the  portrait  of  one  of  the  first  great  naval  heroes  of 
England  found  a  place  on  the  walls  of  the  Old  Court  House  in 
Boston. 

Admiral  Russell,  afterwards  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  was  the  hero 
of  the  battle  of  La  Ilogiie,  —  "  the  first  great  check  that  had  ever 
been  given  to  the  arras  of  Louis  the  14th,  and  the  first  great 
victory  that  the  English  had  gained  over  the  French  since  the  day 
of  Aginconrt.'" 

In  176G  a  new  feature  was  introduced  in  the  Representatives' 
Chamber,  of  remarkable  importance.  On  the  motion  of  James 
Otis,  who,  with  Mr.  Hancock  and  Mr.  Adams  as  a  committee, 
carried  out  the  desigu,  it  was  ordered  that,  the  debates  of  the 
House  should  be  open ;  and  that  a  Gallery  be  erected  on  the 
AVesterly  side  of  the   Chamber   for  the  accommodation   of   such 

'  It  was  Iho  news  of  this  great  batUe,  received  in  Massacliusetla  in  the  Witchcraft  Time, 
which  unahled  Cottoa  Mather  to  emphasize  one  of  his  prophetic  utterances  on  tliat  occa. 
Bion :  — 

*'  [Since  the  makiU!^  of  this  Cuujecture  tlicre  arc  arrived  tmlo  us,  tlie  News  of  a  Victory 
obtained  by  the  Eiigliah  over  the  Frntch,  which  furtlier  confirms  our  Conjecture;  and 
causes  us  to  sini;  Pharaoh's  chariots  aud  liis  Hosts  lias  the  Lord  cast  down  into  tlie  Sea; 
Thy  right  hand  has  dashed  in  pieces  llie  Enemy  !J  Now  in  tlic  Salvation  of  Kngland,  the 
Plantations  cannot  but  liejoyce,  and  Xiw  l^ngland  also  will  be  Glad.^* —  Wo7iders,  Ed.  I.,oiid., 
16!13.  4to. 

The  battle  was  on  the  19tb  May,  1792,  and  the  intelligence  reached  Eaglimd  in  the  late 
summer  or  early  autumn  of  that  eventful  j'ear. 


APPENDIX    M.  195 

Persons  as  should  be  inclined  to  attend  the  same.  It  was  further 
ordered  that  no  Persons  be  admitted  to  a  seat  in  the  Gallery 
without  applying  to  and  being  introduced  by  a  Member  of  the 
House.  The  work  was  completed  before  the  end  of  that  political 
year,  and  the  account  of  Thomas  Crafts,  Housewright,  for  erecting 
a  Gallery  and  other  work  done  by  order  of  the  House  was  presented 
and  allowed  on  the  17  March,  1767,  amounting  to  £15.0.5.  "  The 
gallery  of  tlie  House  "  is  among  the  places  of  dissipation  of  time 
in  1708  mentioned  in  the  diary  of  John  Adams,  ii.,  209.  It  was 
afterwards  enlarged  with  the  chamber  itself,  as  I  shall  presently 
show. 

As  the  limits  of  this  paper  will  not  admit  of  my  passing  bej'ond 
1776,  when  the  General  Court  returned  to  the  State  House,  after 
the  evacuation  of  Boston,  I  will  mention  here  the  fact  that  in 
1791  a  resolve  was  introduced  in  the  House  for  the  purpose  of 
opening  a  gallery  to  the  Senate  Chamber,  in  order  that  the  people 
of  the  Commonwealth  might  be  more  satisfactorily  informed  of  the 
doings  of  their  delegates  in  Senate. 

A  public  gallery  was  an  emphatic  novelty  in  the  history  of 
legislative  bodies.  In  England  the  House  of  Commons  was  for  a 
long  time  a  secret  assembly  ;  the  first  step  towards  publicity  was 
to  cause  its  acts,  addresses,  and  resolutions  to  be  printed.  This 
step  was  taken  by  the  Long  Parliament  under  Charles  I.  Under 
Charles  II.  its  proceedings  again  became  secret ;  some  individuals 
demanded,  but  in  vain,  the  publication  of  the  acts  passed  by  the 
House ;  the  demand  was  resisted  as  dangerous.  It  was  not  till 
the  eighteenth  century-  that  visitors  were  allowed  to  be  present  at 
the  sittings  of  the  English  Parliament ;  this  is  not  now  granted  as 
a  right,  and  the  demand  of  a  single  member  who  appeals  to  the 
ancient  law  is  sufficient  to  clear  the  gnllery. 

Hutchinson,  in  his  summary  of  the  progiess  of  "  the  popular 
branch  of  the  Legislature  "  towards  "  a  greater  proportion  of  power 
than  it  had  ever  possessed  before,"  refers  to  this  admission  of  the 
public  to  their  debates  as  an  important  element  of  disaffection. 
He  says,  "  Although  the  following  novelty  cannot  be  mentioned  as 
an  instance  of  their  assuming  what  they  had  no  right  to,  yet  it 
gave  them  great  additional  weight  and  influence  over  the  people  ; 
they  had  caused  a  gallery  to  be  built,  and  opened,  that  :dl  persons 


196  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATIOX. 

who  inclined  to  it  might  bear  their  debates ;  and  a  speech,  well 
adapted  to  the  gallery,  was  oftentimes  of  more  service  to  the  cause 
of  libcrt}'  than  if  its  purport  had  been  confined  to  the  members  of 
the  House." 

With  respect  to  the  Court  Chamber  I  have  no  particular  knowl- 
edge of  its  arrangement.  It  continued  from  the  beginning  to  be 
occupied  by  the  Courts  of  Law  until  March,  17G9,  when  tlie  first 
Court  was  held  in  the  new  Court  House,  of  which  Governor  Ber- 
nard furnished  the  plans,  being  a  slcilful  architect. 

It  had  been  proposed,  as  early  as  January  11,  1764,  to  purchase 
the  west  end  of  the  Court  House  from  the  County  of  Suffolk  and 
Town  of  Boston,  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  General 
Assembly.  But  a  week  later  the  small-pox  drove  the  Legislature 
to  Cambridge,  and  this  movement,  like  several  other  matters  of 
concern  to  that  Assembly,  appears  to  have  subsided  for  the  time. 
The  determination  to  build  a  new  house  for  the  Courts  and  a  new 
gaol  induced  an  application  to  the  Legislature  for  aid  from  the 
Suffolk  county  autl'.orities,  who  were  ready  to  dispose  of  their 
interest  in  this  building,  as  also  were  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town 
of  Boston.  The  matter  continued  to  be  discussed  in  1766  and 
1767,  and  representatives  of  the  parties  in  interest  were  accorded 
special  hearings  on  the  floor  of  the  House.  Nothing  came  of  it, 
however,  until  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution  was  in  full  career. 

You  are  all  familiar  with  the  desecration  of  the  Court  House  b}- 
its  military  use  and  abuse  during  the  eventful  years  of  Gov.  Ber- 
nard's administration,  and  the  deep-seated  indignation  of  the 
people  of  Boston,  which  was  so  important  an  element  in  the 
beginning  of  the  struggle  that  terminated  the  British  rule  here. 

In  June,  1769,  the  General  Court  having  refused  to  go  on  with 
the  business  of  legislation,  in. view  of  the  military  occupation,  and 
under  the  guns  of  the  Main  Guard,  which  were  planted  opposite 
the  doors  of  the  Court  House,  —  as  it  were,  at  the  points  of  bayo- 
nets and  mouths  of  cannon,  —  the  Governor  took  them  at  their 
word  and  adjourned  the  Court  to  meet  the  nest  daj',  June  16th, 
at  Cambridge.  It  was  no  softening  of  this  blow  to  the  House,  but 
it  was  with  pain  that  they  were  ol)liged  to  ol)Scr\'e  that  the  very 
night  after  this  adjournment  was  made  the  cannon  were  removed 
from  the  Court  House  and  put  on  hoard  a  vessel  for  Halifax. 


APPENDIX    M.  197 

Among  the  resolves  of  the  29th  Juue,  read  and  corrected  July 
7,  17G9,  etc.,  is  the  following :  — 

^^  Resolved,  That  whoever  gace  Order  for  Quartering  even  Com- 
mon Soldiers  and  Camp  Women  in  the  Court  House  in  Boston, 
and  in  the  Representatives'  Chamber,  where  some  of  the  principal 
Archives  of  the  Government  had  been  usually  deposited,  making 
a  Barrack  of  the  same,  placing  a  Main  Guard  with  cannon  pointed 
near  the  said  House  and  Sentinels  at  the  Door,  designed  a  high 
Insult  and  a  triumphant  Indication  that  the  Military  power  was 
Master  of  the  whole  Legislative." 

In  the  petition  to  the  king,  17G9,  it  is  said,  "Your  Majestj^'s 
said  Governor  .  .  .  ordered  the  very  Room  ivhich  is  appro- 
priated for  the  Meeting  of  the  liepresentatices  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, and  was  never  used  for  any  other  Purpose,  and  where  their 
Records  are  kept,  to  be  employed  as  a  Barrack  for  the  Common 
Soldiers :  And  the  Centinels  wore  so  posted  as  that  your  Majesty's 
Council,  and  the  Justices  of  the  Courts  of  Common  Lam,  were 
daily  interrupted  and  even  challenged  in  their  Proceeding  to  the 
Business  of  their  several  Departments." 

"January  9th,  1773.  Upon  a  motion.  Ordered  That  Mr. 
Speaker,  Mr.  Hancock,  Mr.  Bacon,  and  Major  Uawley,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  inspect  the  State  of  this  Building  and  report  what 
Repairs  are  necessary." 

This  was  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  Court  upon  its  return 
from  the  Cambridge  exile,  the  fourth  day  of  the  second  session 
of  the  General  Court  of  1772-73.  Nearly  four  years  had  passed 
since  the  Legislature  had  been  compelled  to  meet  elsewhere  than 
in  their  "ancient  and  convenient  seat,"  constantly  and  vainly 
struggling  against  their  removal  and  exile  as  an  arbitrary  viola- 
tion of  their  Charter  rights. 

"  February  2d.  The  Committee  appointed  to  inspect  the  State 
of  the  Court  House,  reported. 

"  And  thereupon  it  was  Ordered,  That  the  Speaker,  Mr.  Hancock, 
and  Mr.  Adams,  with  such  as  the  Honorable  Board  shall  join,  be 
a  Committee  to  see  to  the  necessary  repairs  of  the  Court  House, 
and  to  agree  with  a  Painter  to  paint  the  Rooms  in  whiih  the 
Council  and  House  of  Representatives  sit  in  General  Assembly." 

The  Legislature  sat  until  March  6,   1773,  so  that   the  repairs 


198  OLD   STATE  HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

were  probably  made  between  that  date  and  May,  when  the  new 
Court  assembled. 

"June  29th,  1773.  Upon  a  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  see  to  the  necessary'  repairs  of  the  State 
House,  provide  cushions  for  the  several  seats  in  this  room." 

It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  tbat  these  repairs  of  1773  which  elicited 
this  little  demonstration  of  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  House  for 
comfort  (if  not  lusury)  in  sitting  were  so  little  enjoyed  under  the 
old  regime,  the  Chamber  being  occupied  afterwards  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  Province  only  a  few  months,  terminating  with 
the  first  four  days  of  its  brief  existence  in  1774,  —  May  25th  to 
28th,  —  when  Gage  adjourned  the  session  to  meet  at  Salem  on  the 
7th  of  June. 

On  this  occasion  also  the  name  of  "  State  House"  first  appears, 
although  it  did  not  come  immediately  into  common  use.  But  it 
attracted  the  notice  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  who  mentions  it  in 
his  history  as  an  illustration  of  the  change  in  the  style  and  lan- 
guage of  the  General  Assembly,  which  he  attributes  to  Samuel 
Adams,  whose  ' '  attention  to  the  Cause  in  which  he  was  engaged 
would  not  suffer  him  to  neglect  even  small  circuffistances,  which 
could  be  made  subservient  to  it." 

Immediately  after  the  British  evacuation  of  Boston  measures 
were  taken  to  cause  such  repairs  to  be  made  in  the  State  House 
as  were  necessary  to  fit  it  for  the  reception  of  the  General  Court. 
A  difficulty  was  apparent  at  once  in  providing  accommodation  for 
tlie  Representatives,  who  now  numbered  more  than  200.  On  the 
8th  April  a  special  committee  was  charged  "  to  inquire  and  report 
whether  the  Chamber  in  the  Town  House  in  Boston,  which  had 
been  used  by  the  Courts  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  could  be  pur- 
chased for  the  use  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  that  the 
Partition  between  it  and  the  Representatives'  Room  in  said  House 
may  be  taken  down  and  the  two  Rooms  made  into  one,  and  what 
would  be  the  Expense  thereof."  Another  committee,  appointed  to 
treat  with  a  committee  of  the  Justices  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  in 
the  following  June,  reported  an  offer  on  the  part  of  the  County  to 
sell  their  interest  to  the  Colony  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pounds. 

In  the  following  October,  however,  the  Justices,  by  formal  oider 


APPENDIX    M.  191) 

of  Court,  tendered  to  the  Great  and  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
the  Chamber  in  the  Old  Court  House  in  which  the  Courts  of  Law 
formerly  sat,  upon  condition  that  the  Slate  should  allow  such  a 
sum  therefor  to  the  County  as  the  Great  and  General  Assembly 
should  determine  to  be  just  and  reasonable. 

A  committee  was  forthwith  despatched  to  view  the  premises  and 
report  what  was  proper  to  bo  done,  and  on  the  18th  October,  177G, 
"  Daniel  Davis,  Esq.,  brought  down  from  the  honorable  board  Mr. 
Commissary  Smith's  account,  with  the  report  of  a  Committee  of 
both  Houses  thereon,  viz.  :  — 

"  The  Committee  appointed  to  view  the  Representatives '  Cham- 
ber, and  the  County  Chamber  thereto  adjoining,  and  to  rei)oit 
what  is  necessary  to  be  done  in  order  to  acconimoilate  the  House 
of  Representatives,  reported  as  follows,  viz.  :  ''  The  Committee  find 
that  the  present  Chamber  will  accommodate  150  members,  l»y 
shutting  up  the  west  door,  and  erecting  a  few  seats  ;  but  as  the 
present  House  of  Representatives  consists  of  more  than  200  Mem- 
bers, yuur  Committee  thiniv  it  best  that  the  partition  betwixt  the 
Representatives'  Chamlier  ;iud  the  County  Chamber  should  be  re- 
moved within  11  feet  of  the  western!  of  the  Court  House  ;  and  that 
the  stairs  go  up  in  tlie  norlh-west  corner  of  said  House;  and  that 
the  said  11  feet  be  improved  for  a  lobby  and  entry-waj' ;  and  that 
over  the  same  be  a  gallery,  to  accommodate  spectators,  agreeable 
to  the  plan  herewith  exhibited  ;  tlie  whole  of  which  your  Committee 
thinlc  may  be  completed  for  nhout  forty  jmuhcIs.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted.  W.  Story,  per  order." 

"Read  and  acceiited,  and  thereupon  "  Ordered,  Tiiat  the  said 
Committee  make  the  alterations  proposed,  or  such  alterations  as 
they  shall  judge  best. 

"  Voted,  That  the  Great  and  General  Court  be  rcanoved  into 
Boston,  as  soon  as  they  can  with  safety. 

"  October  It).  Voted,  That  Mv.  Otis  be  of  the  Committee  ap- 
pointfed  to  enlarge  the  Representatives'  Chamber  in  the  Court 
House  in  BoUon,  in  the  roo.n  of  ^Ir.  Partrid'je,  excused. 

"  November  9.  On  motion,  ]^oted,  at  the  desire  of  t!ie  House,  that 
when  this  Court  shall  be  adjourned,  it  be  adjourned  to  the  Court 
House  in  Boston. 


200  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   RE-DEDICATION. 

"  Ordered,  That  a  message  go  to  the  major  part  of  the  Council  to 
desire  them  to  luljourii  tliis  Court  to  Tui'sday  nest  [Nov.  12tb],  at 
tea  o'clock  iu  ihu  foreuoou,  tlieu  to  meet  at  the  Court  House  iu 
Boston." 

The  session  ended  on  the  same  day,  and  the  iidjonrnment  took 
place  from  Watertowu  to  meet  accoidiugly  at  the  Court  House  in 
Boston. 


APPENDIX  :n^. 


Dr.  Moore's  interesting  and  valuable  notes  printed  in  the  pre- 
ceding Appendix,  contain  one  conclusion  to  which  I  cannot  agree. 
He  states  {ante,  p.  186),  "  No  such  division  of  the  space  on  the 
second  floor  as  the  present  existed  at  any  time  during  the  official 
use  of  the  building  by  the  Legislature,  Colonial,  Provincial,  Revo- 
lutionary, or  State." 

As  this  fact,  if  true,  would  be  a  serious  ground  of  complaint 
against  the  committee  of  the  City  Government  in  charge  of  the 
restoration,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  examine  into  his  proofs,  and 
also  to  explain  the  reasons  which  influenced  that  committee  in  its 
action. 

Every  one  knows  that,  during  tlie  forty  years  after  the  City 
Government  quitted  this  building,  and  while  it  was  leased  for  busi- 
ness purposes,  the  interior  suffered  great  changes.  Each  floor 
was  cut  up  into  small  ofTiees,  the  stairways  were  changed,  and  a 
wooden  roof  was  built  over  the  old  one.  The  walls  and  floors 
alone  remained  unchanged,  and  these  were,  after  all,  the  essentials. 
After  removing  all  the  interior  partitions,  on  each  floor,  the  work 
of  reconstruction  began.  Mr.  Clough  (the  City  Architect)  and 
myself  sought  for  information.  No  plan  of  any  kind  could  be 
found  in  City  Hall,  but  by  inquiry  it  was  discovered  that  in  Cin- 
cinnati were  living  the  heirs  of  Isaiah  Rogers,  who  was  the  archi- 
tect of  the  reconstruction  in  1830.  His  papers  were  found  there, 
and  among  them  a  plan  containing  evidently  the  design  then 
adopted.     A  fac-simile  of  this  is  annexed,  and  the  original,  now 


Ktx.KHs'   I'l  AN .   !.s;io. 


APPENDIX  N.  201 

owned  by  the  City  of  Boston,  is  at  present  hung  in  the  old  State 
House.  It  shows  the  first  and  second  floors,  the  circular  stair- 
way, and  the  locations  (in  pencil,  as  represented  by  dotted  lines) 
of  the  deslis  of  the  members  of  the  two  branches  of  the  City 
Council. 

The  important  question,  therefore,  was,  Does  this  plan  represent 
in  its  outlines  the  arrangement  when  the  Legislature  quitted  the 
building,  January  11,  1798,  or  was  it  a  new  creation  by  Mr. 
Eogers  ? 

On  this  point,  at  that  time  as  now,  definite  information  was 
lacking.  No  plan  lias  been  found  at  the  State  House  or  else- 
where giving  the  architect's  lines  of  am-  floor.  The  newspapers 
of  1830  are,  unfortunately,  entirely  silent  as  to  the  extent  of  Mr. 
Kogers'  alterations.  We  were  then,  and  are  to-day,  thrown  back 
upon  such  inferences  and  conclusions  as  can  be  drawn  from  the 
few  facts  in  our  possession. 

Dr.  Moore  has  brought  into  prominence  the  fact,  that,  when  the 
building  was  repaired  after  the  fire  of  1747,  the  Representatives' 
Chamber  did  not  occupy  the  entire  western  half  of  the  second 
floor.  The  County  of  Suffolk  paid  for  a  chamber  on  the  west  end, 
and,  although  the  courts  were  removed  therefrom  in  1769,  it  was 
not  until  1776  that  the  State  bought  out  the  rights  of  the  county. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  attempt  to  show  what  the  probable  size  of 
that  Court  Ciiamber  was,  but  I  desire  to  point  out  Dr.  Moore's 
failure  to  account  for  the  last  condition  of  the  rooms  prior  to  the 
removal  of  the  Legislature  in  1798.  He  claims  that  the  present 
arrangement  never  existed  while  the  Legislature  occupied  the  build- 
ing, but  his  last  authentic  data  refer  only  to  the  period,  1776,  when 
the  State  bought  out  the  county.  He  shows  that  then,  indeed,  a 
ccrt:iin  plan  was  recommended  by  which  stairs  were  retained  or 
constructed  in  the  north-west  corner,  up  to  the  second  floor,  and 
that  a  space  of  eleven  feet  on  the  west  end  was  to  be  used  as  a 
gallery  with  a  lobby  and  entry-waj-  under  it.  This  plan,  if  arlopted, 
would  have  closed  up  the  three  windows  on  the  west  end,  on 
AVashington  street.  But  the  vote  cited  by  him  was,  "  That  the 
said  committee  make  the  alterations  proposed,  or  such  alterations 
as  they  shall  judge  best." 

What  plan  did  the  committee  adopt? 


202  OLD   STATE   HOUSE   RE-DEDICATION. 

Dr.  Moore's  argument  is,  that  this  plan  was  adoptpcl  and  never 
changed,  and  hence  to  that  extent  the  present  hall  differs  from  the 
Representatives'  Chamber. 

I  cannot  concur  with  him,  as  he  seems  to  ignore  entirely  a  con- 
temporary witness  who  gives  a  very  different  idea.  I  refer  to  the 
full  and  careful  account  printed  in  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for 
August,  1791,  and  reprinted  ante,  p.  63.  It  is  there  stated  that 
the  Senate  Chamber  was  thirty-two  feet  square,  and  the  Repre- 
sentatives' Chamber  thirty-two  by  fifty-seven  and  a  half,  each 
with  a  lobby.  I  have  pointed  out  that  Jifty-seven  and  a  half  feet 
is  an  impossibility,  but  that  thh-ty-seren  and  a  half  feet  reaches 
exactly  from  the  west  end  to  the  centre  of  the  curved  partition  on 
the  east  end  towards  the  stairway.  To  each  a  lobby  is  assigned, 
but  nothing  is  said  of  a  gallery. 

So,  again,  in  the  full  description  of  the  reception  ofWashington, 
iu  1789  {ante,  p.  96),  it  is  said  :  "The  central  west  window  of  the 
State  House  was  the  door  through  which  the  President  passed  "  to 
the  balcony,  gallery,  or  balustrade  erected  in  front  of  the  building, 
as  shown  in  the  engraving. 

It  seems  much  more  probable,  therefore,  that  after  1776,  when 
the  State  acquired  the  whole  hall,  the  partition  was  removed,  and 
the  windows  of  the  west  end  were  allowed  to  light  the  apartment. 
I  even  doubt  if  the  gallery  were  retained.  The  limited  height  of 
the  hall,  only  fifteen  feet,  must  have  made  the  gallery  extremely 
inconvenient.  It  was  an  experiment,  useful  in  the  excited  times 
from  1766  to  1774,  but  its  usefulness  departed  with  the  Revolu- 
tion. It  may  well  be  doubted  if  an  audience  would  have  collected 
after  the  Revolution  had  succeeded.  Certainly  we  need  evidence, 
yet  lacking,  of  the  existence  of  a  gallery  after  that  period. 

I  will,  however,  return  to  surer  ground.  No  one  disputes  that 
the  Council  Chamber  was  of  its  present  form, —  a  square  of 
thirty-two  feet.  Its  only  entrance  was  from  the  centre  of  the 
building,  and  its  lobl)y  must  have  been  at  the  west  end  of  the 
room.  No  one  disputes  that  the  centre  doors  on  State  street,  on 
the  two  sides  of  the  building,  are  part  of  the  original  plan ;  or 
that  the  winding  stairway  from  the  second  floor  to  the  tower  is 
part  of  the  original  construction  in  1748.  The  report  of  the 
City  Architect   shows   that  a  spiral   stairway  was  iu    the    place 


APPENDIX  N.  203 

occupied  by  tlia  present  one ;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
tliat  Mr.  Rogers  made  no  cliange  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  floor. 
In  iitting  it  up  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  he  made 
provision  for  a  railing  and  for  seats  for  spectators  (all  shown  in 
pencil  or  dotted  lines  in  our  copy). 

In  like  manner  he  has  represented  in  the  western  hall  a  curved 
end  towaids  the  cenlre,  the  limit  agreeing  exactly  with  the 
dimensions  of  the  chamber  in  1791.  Is  it  not  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  he  used  the  curved  end  simply  because  he  found 
it  there?  There  is  no  architectural  necessity  for  a  curved  end 
owing  to  the  arrangement  of  seats.  In  fact,  in  the  old  City  Hall 
on  School  street  the  rooms  were  octagonal,  but  the  seats  of  the 
aldermen  were  arranged  in  an  oval  and  tliose  of  the  conncilmen 
in  a  semicircle.  In  the  present  City  Hall  the  aldermen's  seats 
are  in  a  semicircle  and  the  room  is  rectangular. 

Moreover,  in  Rogers'  plan,  at  the  point  marked  by  us  with  a 
star  in  the  margin,  there  is  a  dotted  line  for  the  easterly  end  of 
the  room.  This  was  drawn  in  pencil,  and  I  iufer  that  the 
architect  tried  the  effect  of  a  straight  end,  and  abandoned  it 
because  it  would  have  obscured  one  half  of  a  window  on  each 
side. 

The  defence  of  the  committee  is,  therefore,  this :  No  plan  could 
be  found  of  earlier  date  than  that  by  Rogers  in  1830  ;  there' is  no 
record  of  any  considerable  alterations  in  the  interior  between  !  798 
and  1830;  the  Rogers  plan  is  not  at  variance  with  the  description 
in  1791  ;  and  it  was  in  itself  a  reasonable  and  effective  arrange- 
ment. 

Moreover,  the  most  that  can  be  urged  against  the  plan  refers 
only  to  trifling  details.  No  one  disputes  that  there  was  an  east 
door  and  lobby  to  the  Representatives'  Chaml)er.  If  the  plan  of 
177G  was  followed  all  of  the  south-west  end  was  thrown  into  the 
main  hall  by  being  used  as  a  gallery ;  and  the  only  part  of  the 
present  hall  excluded  from  it  would  be  the  north-west  corner,  if 
used  for  a  staircase.  Even  when  a  partition  across  the  west  end 
divided  the  hall  from  the  Court  Chamber,  the  sides,  the  east  end, 
and  the  floors  were  the  same  as  now,  and  the  identity  of  the  main 
room  is  preserved.  It  would  have  been  a  mistake  in  judgment  to 
have  gone  against  the  evidence  of  the  Rogers  plan  and  the  de- 


204  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  RE-1)KDICATI0N. 

scription  of  1791,  and  to  have  curtailed  and  disfigured  the  hall 
under  the  idea  of  conforming  to  the  plan  approved  in  1776. 

It  would  seem  to  be  more  accurate,  therefor,  to  say  that,  though 
Representatives'  Hall  went  through  various  changes  in  minor 
details,  the  weight  of  evidence  is,  that  the  reconstructed  Hall 
shows  its  form  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  its  occupancy  by 
the  State  Legislature. 


In  addition  to  the  records  of  the  Legislature,  as  transcribed  by 
Dr.  Moore,  I  desire  to  present  some  items  gleaned  from  the  records 
of  the  Court  for  Suffolk  County. 

At  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  at  Boston, 
on  Tuesday,  May  2,  17G9,  it  was 

"  Ordered,  that  John  Euddock,  Belcher  Noyes  and  Samuel  Pem- 
berton  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  cause 
the  Stairs  in  the  late  Court  Chamber  in  the  Townhouse,  so  called, 
leading  up  to  the  Gallery  there,  to  be  immediately  taken  down ; 
that  they  cause  the  Door  leading  into  snid  Chamber  to  be  lock'd 
and  so  Secur'd  as  that  no  person  shall  Enter  said  Chamber,  without 
the  leave  of  this  Court  or  the  Consent  of  the  Committee  :  and  said 
Committee  are  directed  to  Open  the  other  Stairs  leading  up  to  the 
.  Gallery. 

"  The  said  Committee  above  named  declining  to  Act  in  the 
above  affair,  Ordered  that  Richard  Dana,  Joseph  "Williams  and 
John  Tudor,  Esqf  be  the  Committee  for  the  above  Purposes." 

At  a  Court  held  at  Braintree  Tuesday,  Oct.  1,  1776,  "  Thomas 
Cushing  Esq'  is  appointed  to  inform  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
State  that  this  Court  consent  that  the  Chamber  at  the  West  end  of 
the  old  Court  house  be  taken  into  the  Assembly  Room,  the  State 
paying  the  County  therefor  such  a  Sum  as  the  Assembly  shall 
think  just  and  reasonable." 

At  a  Court  held  at  Boston,  Tuesday,  April  15,  1777,  ''0/-- 
dered,  that  such  of  the  Members  of  this  Court  as  arc  members  of 
the  Great  and  General  Court  of  this  State,  shall  be  a  Committee 
to  Apply  to  said  Great  and  General  Court  for  such  a  Grant  as 
they  may  think  reasonable,  for  the  Room  belonging  to  this  County 


APPENDIX  N.  205 

in  the  Old  Court  House,  which  was  taken  into  the  Eoom  used  by 
tte  House  of  Representatives  for  the  enlargement  thereof." 

At  a  Court  in  Boston,  Feb.  10,  17t6-7,  it  was  ordered  that 
12s.  dd.  "be  paid  unto  Mr.  Benjamin  Russell  for  setting  up  a 
Bar  in  Faneuil  Hall,  p.  order  of  both  -Judges  of  the  Sup.  Court, 
for  the  Tryal  of  persons  indited  for  murther." 

At  the  same  time  £3. 16.. 6  was  allowed  to  Onesiphorus  Tileston 
for  work  and  materials  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  this  Court. 

Oct  31,  1748,  £5  was  paid  to  Richard  Hubbard  for  tolling  the 
beU,  sweeping  the  bouse,  &c. 

Nov.  9,  1748,  £2. .3. .7  was  paid  to  Thomas  Parker  for  "work 
and  stuff  in  mending  the  Chimney  in  the  office  at  Faneuil  Hall." 

March  6,  1748-9,  £2..12..0  was  paid  to  Mr.  Robert  Stone  "  in 
full  of  his  Account  for  the  Courts  sitting  at  his  house." 

May  15,  1749,  £19  was  paid  to  William  Clear,  "  in  full  of  his  ac- 
count for  the  Courts  sitting  at  liis  house  in  January  and  Februarj' 
last."  Also  £10  to  Benj"  Bagnall,  "  it  being  in  full  for  the  several 
Courts  of  Justice  sitting  in  the  Quakers  Meeting  house  to  this  day." 

At  an  adjournment  of  a  Court  of  Gen"  Sessions  on  Friday  the 
28"'  of  July  A.D.  1749. 

"  The  Mem"  of  Middlecott  Cooke  &  Ezek'  Goklthwait  the  Clerks 
of  this  Court  setting  forth  that  when  the  Town  house  was  Con- 
sumed in  Decf  1747,  they  took  all  possible  pains  to  preserve  the 
publick  Records  &  Files  of  the  County  then  in  their  office,  that  in 
removing  the  same  out  of  the  Townhouse  the  Files  of  ^Yrits  Exe- 
cutions &  other  papers  belonging  to  the  County  were  most  of  'em 
broke  &  so  intermixed  that  tliere  was  scarce  a  whole  file  of  Papers 
together  for  near  Seventy  or  eighty  years  past,  that  upon  the 
Mem"  informing  this  Court  thereof,  they  were  pleas'd  to  order  the 
Memo"  to  Sort  the  Files  &  papers  &  put  'em  into  order  which 
they  have  accordingly  done  &  in  doing  tliere  of  have  taken  great 
Care  &  been  put  to  a  considerable  Espence  of  time,  praying  this 
Court  to  make  them  such  an  Allowance  therefor  as  they  shall 
think  reasonable  was  read  &  thereupon  Ordered  that  Sam'  AVelles 
Sam'  Watts  Sam'  White  Joseph  Heath  &  Samuel  Miller  Esq"  be  a 
Comf  to  take  s'*  Mem"  into  Consideration  &  report  to  this  Court  as 
soon  as  may  be  (word  left  out — piece  torn  from  book)  thej'  sh;dl 
think  reasonable  sho*  be  allowed  the  Memo,  for  said  Service." 


206  OLD   STATE  UOUSK  RE-DEDICATION. 

At  an  adjournment  of  a  Court  of  Gen"  Sessions  on  Wednesday 
the  9*  of  Aug;  A.D.  1749. 

"The  Committee  .appointed  the  28"'  of  July  on  the  Memorial  of 
Messrs  Middlecott  Cook  &  Ezek'  Goldthwait  reported  that  they 
were  humbl^^  of  Opinion  that  tliere  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
County  Treasury  Sixty  five  Pounds  bills  of  the  last  Emission  to 
the  Memorialists  for  their  Services  as  set  forth  in  said  Memorial 
which  report  was  read  &  accepted  &  there  upon  it  was  Ordered 
that  said  Sum  be  paid  out  of  the  County  Treasury  accordingly." 

Feb.  9,  1749-50.  £2G..1..9  was  paid  to  William  Doane.  Esq., 
"  it  being  for  Curtains  and  Cushions  in  the  Court  Chamber." 

Julj'  29,  1751.  "  Ordered,  that  a  suitable  Bell  be  provided  at 
the  Charge  of  the  County,  to  be  placed  upon  the  Court  House  for 
the  use  of  the  Courts  of  Justice  here." 

Feb.  10,  1752.  £5. .7. .2  was  paid  to  Robert  Stone  "  in  full  of 
his  account  for  the  Courts  sitting  at  his  house  in  January  last." 

May  13,  1752.  Joshua  Winslow,  Esq'.,  was  paid  £23.. 3.. 9 
for  the  bell  he  had  provided,  and  Middlecott  Cooke  was  "  desired 
to  fix  said  Bell  on  the  Roof  of  the  Court  house,  in  such  manner  as 
he  shall  think  proper." 

Jany.  2,  1753.  "  Ordered,  that  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  be 
directed  to  purchase  a  Dutch  Stove  and  fix  the  same  in  the  Court- 
house for  the  Comfort  and  Convenience  of  the  Court  in  their 
Sessions  in  the  Winter  Season." 

Jany.  28,  1754.  "  The  Committee  appointed  the  first  day  of 
this  sitting  of  this  Court,  on  the  Memorial  of  Thomas  Ilutchinsion, 
Esq.,  Judge  of  Probate,  reported  that  thej-  had  Viewed  the  Land 
in  s*  memo,  mention'd,  and  were  of  Opinion  that  a  Convenient 
Brick  Building  for  the  Probate  Office  might  be  erected  in  the  front 
of  said  Land,  adjoining  to  the  County  Gaol,  and  thereupon  It  is 
Ordered  that  John  PXyerweather,  Joshua  Winslow  and  Joseph 
Dowse,  Esq",  be  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
Erect  a  Brick  Building  on  said  Land  for  an  Office  for  the  Judge 
of  Probate  for  this  County,  and  tiiat  they  do  it  in  the  most  con- 
venient manner  and  at  the  cheapest  Rate  they  can." 

Dec.  3,  1754.  The  committee  reported  that  tiiey  had  built  and 
completed  said  office  for  the  Judge  of  Probate.  The  expense 
seems  to  have  been  about  £250. 


APPENDIX   N.  207 

May  14th,  1756. 

"  Tlie  Petition  of  John  Payne  and  John  Cotton  Registers  of  the 
Court  of  Probate,  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  —  Setting  forth  That 
the  Walls  of  the  Office  of  said  Court  were  so  dump  that  your 
Petiticineis  apprehend  they  Endanger  their  health  thereby  and  that 
the  papers  &  Records  of  said  Office  are  very  much  exposed  to  the 
dust  and  Rot  more  especially  since  they  have  Made  use  of  Sea 
Coal  firing,  they  further  beg  Leave  to  Represent  to  this  Court  that 
they  are  at  Considerable  expense  in  providing  Coals  which  they 
humbly  apprehend  Ought  to  be  a  County  Charge,  and  are  In- 
formed is  so  with  Regard  to  the  Clerks  Office  of  the  Court  of 
General  Sessijus  of  the  peace  for  the  sd  County.  And  Your 
petitioners  would  hope  that  they  are  equally  Entituled  thereto,  and 
therefore  prays  that  the  Court  wou'd  have  Consideration  tliereof, 
Which  Pett".  was  Preferd  to  the  Court  in  January  last,  at  Which 
time  Joshua  Wiuslow  and  Joseph  Dowse  P3sq"  were  appointed  a 
Committee  to  make  Enquiry  into  the  Necessity  thereof,  &  make 
report  to  the  next  Court,  Which  they  have  Accordingly  done,  in 
the  Words  following 

"  We  the  Subscribers  being  appointed  to  View  the  Office  within 
mentioned  are  of  Opinion  that  it  Would  be  of  Service  to  have 
Glass  doors  placed  before  the  Books  and  papers,  also  to  have  the 
lower  part  of  the  Wall  lin'd  with  Roards,  Also  some  alteration  in 
the  Chimney,  — Which  Report  after  being  Read  to  the  Court  Was 
Accepted  by  them,  and  Joshua  Winslow  and  Joseph  Dowse  Esq" 
are  desired  to  see  that  the  Several  things  Reported,  be  done." 

The  New  Codkt  House  and  the  Gaol. 

The  examination  of  these  Court  records  has  also  thrown  light 
upon  a  point  or  two  before  unexplained. 

Dr.  Moore  has  stated,  that  in  March,  1769,  "  the  first  Court 
was  held  iu  the  New  Court  House,  of  which  Governor  Bernard 
furnished  the  plans,  being  a  skilful  architect."  I  understand  that 
Bernard's  share  in  the  worij  is  a  matter  of  tradition  only. 

In  Appendix  F,  {ante,  p.  154)  a  description  is  given  of  the  New 
Court  House  and  Jail  on  Court  Street,  under  the  date  of- 1794, 
and  it  was  shown  that  the  County  Courts  migrated,  in   1810,  to  a 


208  OLD   STATE   HOUSE  RE-DEDICATION. 

second  or  newer  Court  House  on  School  street,  and  again,  in  1841, 
when  that  building  became  City  Hall,  they  returued  to  a  new 
building  on  Court  street,  where  they  now  are. 

But  the  Court  records  not  only  show  that  there  were  two  sepa- 
rate buildings  in  17G9,  viz.  :  a  Court  House  and  a  Gaol,  but  also 
a  brick  Probate  Court  building  there. 

As  to  the  Court  House,  which  faced  on  Queen  or  Court  street, 
the  following  items  are  definite  :  — 

"  At  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  began  and  held 
at  Boston,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  April,  being  the  eighteenth  day  of  said  month,  An- 
noque  Dom.,  1769,  being  the  first  Sessions  in  new  Court  house  in 
Queen  Street,"  etc.,  etc. 

May  1st,  1770,  the  Committee  appointed  on  the  30th  of  January 
previous  to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  building  reported  the 
whole  cost  to  be  £2373..17..10J  lawful  money  and  the  Cummittee 
in  charge  of  building  was  paid  the  farther  sum  of  £45. 

As  to  the  Gaol  which  was  erected  at  the  same  time,  I  find  an 
entry.  May  2, 17G9,  of  a  similar  committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of 
the  Kew  Gaol  in  Queen  street,  which  was  "begun  the  tweKtIi  day 
of  August  1766  and  finished  the  twenty  first  day  of  March  1767  ;  " 
They  reported  the  whole  cost  to  be  £3466.. 13. .9J. 

But  prior  to  this  settlement  the  new  Gaol  had  been  greatly  in- 
jured by  a  fire,  set,  as  was  reported,  by  the  prisoners.  The  record 
is  as  follows  :  — 

"Suffolk  SB.  At  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  peace  held  at 
Boston  within  and  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  by  Adjournment,  on 
Tuesday  the  thirty  first  day  of  January  AD  1769.  — 

"  His  Majesty's  Justices  present  —  viz!  — 

"  Whereas  the  Inside  part  of  the  New  Goal  lately  built  was  in 
the  Night  following  the  thirtyelh  current  intirely  Consumed  by 
Fire,  no  part  therof  but  the  stonewalls  being  left,  and  this  Court 
judging  it  absolutely  necessary  that  the  same  should  be  Rebuilt  as 
soon  as  may  be.  Upon  Consideration  thereof  Order  that  Joshua 
Winslow  Foster  Hutchinson  &  John  Tudor  Ksq'  be  and  they 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Rebuild  said  Goal,  to  provide 
the  Material,  Employ  the  Workmen,  and  do  whatever  theyshall  think 
best  for  —  compleating  the  same  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  the  said 


APPENDIX  N.  209 

Committee  are  hereby  directed  aud  fully  Itrywwered  (if  they  thinic 
fit)  to  hire  monies  for  carrying  on  said  Goal,  aud  pay  interest  foi- 
the  same,  and  that  the  county  shall  be  chargeable  for  such  sums  as 
the3'  shall  so  borrow  and  the  Interest  thereof  and  the  Treasurer 
of  the  County  for  the  time  being  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  all  such 
monies  as  said  Committee  shall  borrow,  and  the  Interest  that  shall 
become  due  thereupon. 

"Order'd  that  Bridewell  house  in  the  Town  of  Boston  be  the 
cominon  Goal  of  the  County,  until  such  time  as  the  above  Goal  is 
rebuilt,  and  the  above  Com'f.°  are  hereby  directed  to  make  such 
Eepairs  &  Alterations  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  safe  Custody 
of  all  such  Persons  as  shall  be  there  committed. 

"  Order'd  that  the  Sheriff  of  this  County  provide  Cloathing  & 
such  other  things  as  maybe  necessary  for  the  comfort  and  support 
of  such  poor  Prisoners  as  were  in  the  Goal  when  the  same  took 
fire,  some  of  'em  being  much  burnt,  &  that  he  bring  in  his  acco' 
thereof  to  this  Court  for  allowance." 

Oct.  16th,  1770,  the  auditing  Committee  on  the  rebuilding  of  the 
Gaol  reported  that  the  whole  cost  of  the  repairs  was  £1043. .19. .4, 
and  £30  additional  was  allowed  to  the  Committee  in  charge  of  the 
work. 

Oct.  1, 1771,  "Ezekiel  Goldthwait,  Esq.  having  made  a  Present 
to  this  County  of  his  Majesty's  Arms,  Carved  Gilt  and  Painted  in 
a  handsome  manner,  in  order  to  be  placed  in  the  County  Court 
Eoom,  —  the  Justices  of  this  Court  Thanked  Mr  Goldthwait  for  the 
same  in  Open  Coux-t,  aud  Ordered  that  a  Record  therof  be  made." 

There  are  various  bills  ordered  to  be  paid  for  the  use  of  a  room 
by  a  Grand  Jury  ;  but  January  5,  1773,  "  John  Hill,  John  Tudor 
and  Edmund  Quincy,  Esq"  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  cause 
the  Room  adjoining  to  the  Probate  Office  on  the  lower  floor  of  the 
New  Court  House  to  be  enlarged  and  made  Convenient  for  the 
Grand  Jurors  of  the  County  to  sit  and  do  Business" 

April,  1773,  John  Hill  and  John  Tudor  were  appointed  "  to 
cause  two  Pillars  to  be  placed  under  the  Gallery  in  the  Court 
Room." 

Oct.  7,  1777,  "  The  Court  give  leave  to  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence of  Boston  to  Occupy  the  Room  at  the  Southwest 
Corner  of  the  Court  house  till  further  order." 


210        OLD  STATE  HOUSE  EEDEDICATION. 

The  foregoing  notes  make  it  plain  that  the  gallery  in  the  Repre- 
sentatives' Chamber  was  begun  at  abdut  the  same  time  as  the  new 
Court  House.  There  is  evidently  a  connection  between  the  two 
facts.  The  order  of  the  Court  on  May  2,  17C9,  shows  that  there 
were  staiis  in  the  Court  Chamber  leading  to  the  gallery,  and  also 
other  stairs  leading  up  to  it.  I  infer  that  the  gallery  was  over 
the  Court  Chamber  even  then,  and  that  the  other  stairs  would 
be  merely  the  coutiuiiation  of  the  west  stairs  up  another  flight. 
The  order  of  October  18,  1776,  states  that  the  partition  between 
the  two  chambers  be  removed  to  within  eleven  feet  of  the  west 
end  of  the  building,  implying  that  before  this  time  the  Court 
Chamber  was  more  than  eleven  feet  deep.  The  westerly  edge  of 
the  second  window  from  the  end  is  eleven  feet  from  the  west  wall, 
and  it  seems  improbable  that  the  line  of  the  chamber  extended 
farther  originally.  I  cannot  believe  that  the  original  construction 
contemplated  the  division  of  a  window  by  a  partition  wall ;  and 
the  reasonable  conclusion  is,  that  sixteen  feet,  or  the  space  to  the 
third  window,  was  the  extreme  limit  to  be  assigned  to  this  divid- 
ing wall.  Probably  thirteen  feet,  or  half  way  between  the  windows, 
was  the  first  line.  It  was  therefore  intended  to  set  it  back  but 
slightly  in  1776,  and  the  gallery  must  always  have  been  small, 
hot,  and  dark. 

Even  if  this  gallery  continued  until  1798  I  think  it  would  have 
been  unwise  to  reproduce  it  in  this  reconstruction.  It  was  an 
afterthought  and  a  disfigurement.  In  the  address  sanctioned  by 
the  committee  {ante,  p.  62)  attention  was  called  to  the  existence 
of  the  gallery,  and  certainly  that  was  all  that  the  most  enthusiastic 
antiquary  could  ask. 

While  I  feel  greatly  indebted  to  Dr.  Moore  for  the  interesting 
facts  which  he  has  discovered,  I  do  not  think  that  the  committee 
could  have  done  differently,  even  with  these  facts  in  their  posses- 
sion. The  Court  Chamber  and  the  gallery  were  accidents,  and 
transient.  The  hall  as  it  stands  to-day  gives  effect  to  the 
harmony  of  the  original  plan  and  needs  no  other  vindication. 

It  does  not  detract  from  the  correctness  of  the  reconstruction 
that  the  committee  did  not  try  to  reproduce  the  seats  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives. The  partition  walls  and  gallery  are  of  exactly  the 
same  minor  importance. 


APPENDIX  N.  211 

I  cannot,  in  closing,  forboar  the  expression  of  my  belief  that 
these  criticisms  (as  well  as  others  far  more  offensive,  which  were 
in  the  original  address  hy  Dr.  Moore)  are  an  unworthy  return  for 
the  great  liberality  displayed  by  the  City  Council  of  Bpston  in 
1881.  In  view  of  the  culpable  negligence  so  often  shown  hy 
national,  state,  or  local  authorities  in  the  matter  of  preserving 
antiquarian  relics,  it  was  a  most  generous  gift  to  the  public.  The 
expenditure  of  some  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  outright  and  the 
sacrifice  of  several  thousand  dollars  of  annual  income  were  an 
enlightened  and  almost  unprecedented  act  by  a  city  government. 
If  the  committee  fell  short  of  the  best  use  of  its  opportunities,  it 
was  not  from  lack  of  good  intentions  or  industry.  But,  in  fact, 
the  city  was  not  deceived  by  its  agents  ;  it  has  the  most  authentic 
important  relic  of  ante-revolutionary  days  now  in  existence,  and, 
whatever  trifliug  faults  may  be  discovered  hereafter,  the  Old  State 
House  will  stand  as  an  indisputable  proof  of  the  wise  liberality  of 
the  city  of  Boston. 

WILLIAM   H.  WHITMORE. 


INDEX. 


Acts,  published,  42. 
Ad:iTas,  John,  70,  71,  85. 
Adams,  Samuel,  74,   84. 
Andros,  Sir  E.,  85,  37. 
Anne,  Queen,  portrait,  188,  189. 
Armon-,  53,  169,  171,  174. 
Arms,  Colony  and  Royal,  61,  G4,  95^ 
176,  188,  193,  209. 
destroyed,  93,  148. 
Artillery  Co. ,  Ancient  and  Honorable, 

27,  41,  163,  171. 
Assessors'  Report,  104-106. 
Attics,  186. 

Badger,  Commodore,  126. 

Balcony  or  gallery,  35,  40,  43,  50,  53, 

90,  92,  94,  177. 
Bell,  20fi. 

Bernard,  Gov.,  196,  207. 
Boston  Gazette,  93. 
Boston  Magazine,  94. 
Bowdoin,  Gov.  James,  94. 
Bowen,  Picture  of  Boston,  109,  113. 
Brazer's  building,  23,  24,  25. 
Bridewell,  209. 
British  Coffee  House,  80. 
Bunker  Hill,  battle  of,  91. 
Butler,  Gov.,  178. 

Cadets,  corps  of,  66,  90. 
Candlesticks,  193. 
Castle,  the,  56,  86. 
Cellars,  31. 

Chantrey,  statue  by,  111. 
Chimneys,  54. 
Church,  Old  Brick,  92. 

Old  South,  68,  84. 
City  Hall,  104,  113,  114,  152-158. 


Clerk,  town,  53,  66. 

of  the  House,  76 
Clock,  town,  53. 
Closet,  48. 

Clough,  Geo.  A.,  200. 
Codfish,  the,  61,  176,  193,  194. 
Commissioners,  27. 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  209. 
Conduit,  27,  33,  34,  171-175. 
Congress,  90. 
Council-chamber,  40,  43,  45,  47,  49, 

50,  57,  Gl,  70,  79,  185,  199. 
Court-chamber,   185,   186,   199,  201, 

204,  210. 
Court,  General,  27,  30,  37,  42,  98,  169. 
Supreme,  37,  43,  49,  80,  185, 
204,  205. 
Court  House,  stone,  110,  147,  208. 

new,  155,196,207,208. 
Leverett  St.,  156. 
to    be    removed    from 
Boston,  182-185. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  92. 
Deputies,  number  of,  51. 
Deshon,  Moses,  carver,  61. 
Desk,  Speaker's,  62,  192. 
Dial,  53. 
Dunton,  John,  81. 

Ellis,  Rev.  Rufus,  19. 
Engine,  fire,  61. 
Evacuation  of  Boston,  92. 
Exchange,  merchants',  32, 114,185, 186. 

Faneuil,  arms  of,  151. 

Hall,  CO,  67,  G8,  77,  98,  110, 
149-151. 


214 


INDEX. 


Files  of  papers,  205,  207. 

Fires,  30,  34,  44,  57,  107,  111,  115, 

151,  175,  176,  179,  208. 
Fort  Hill,  35. 

Franquelin,  map  of  Boston,  33. 
Freemasons,  109,  110. 
French  troops  welcomed,  94. 
Funerals,  public,  60,  (19. 

Gage,  Got.  Thomas,  90. 

Gallerj'  (see   Balcony),   62,   76,  88, 

170,  175,  194,  195,  203,  209,  210. 
Garrison,  William  L.,  119. 
Goelet,  Capt.  Francis,  GO. 
Governor,  messages  from,  52. 
Grammar-school  Inspectors,  49. 
Granary,  27,  169,  173. 
Gray's  ropewalk,  81. 
Green,  Samuel  A.,  address  by,  121. 
Green  chamber,  the,  53. 
Gridley,  Col.  Richard,  56. 

Hales'  Survey  of  Boston,  115. 

Half-square  Court,  25. 

Hancock,  Gov.  John,  88,  90. 

Healths,  drinking  of,  42. 

Hersey,  Aid.  Charles  H.,  address  by, 

18. 
Howe,  Gen.,  91. 

Hutchinson,   Gov.   Thomas,  80,  83, 
85,  88,  89. 
house  burnt,  73. 

Independence,  birth  of,  72. 

Jail,  208,  209. 

Joy,  Thomas,  builder,  30. 

Josselyn,  Thomas,  31. 

Keayne,  Capt.  Eobert,  24,  26,  27. 

founds  the  Town  House,  31. 

signature,  28. 

will,  168-174. 
Kidd,  Capt.  William,  tried,  40. 
Enowles,  Commodore,  67. 

Lechford,  account  by,  26. 


Legislature  at  Cambridge,  86,  88. 

at  Salem,  90. 

atWatertown,  91,  93. 

returned  to   Boston,  93, 
94,  97. 
Lexington,  battle  of,  91. 
Liberty-tree,  73. 

Library,  town,  27,  33,  170,  174,  190. 
Limestone  found,  40. 
Lion  and  Unicorn,  64,  145-148, 177. 
Lobby,  43,  49. 
Long,  Gov.  John  D.,  126. 
Louisburg,  capture  of,  60,  65. 
Lynde,  Benj.,  187. 

Magazine,  the  public,  171. 
Market  House,  172-174. 

place,  24,  32,  172-174. 
Massachusetts  Magazine,  the,  63,  95, 

98. 
Massachusetts  Fire   Insurance   Co., 

98. 
Meeting-house,  First,  25,  42,  44,  49, 

53,  81,  170. 
Model  of  Town  House,  28,  169. 
Molineaux,  William,  82. 
Moore,  Geo.  II.,  notes  by,  178-199. 

Neal,  Daniel,  description  by,  46. 

Old  South  Church,  69,  84. 
Old  State  House  (see  State  Bouse). 
Otis,  Harrison  Gray,  address  by,  117. 
Otis,  James,  70,  80. 

Painter's  bill  in  1773,  176,  177. 
Pemberton,  Thomas,  description  by, 

97. 
Pepperell,  Sir  William,  65,  56. 
Phips,  Sir  William,  38. 
Dame  Mary,  39. 
Pillars,  63,  169. 
Pillory,  the,  165. 

Population  of  Boston,  34,  38,  46,  64. 
Port  Bill,  the  Boston,  90. 
Portraits  mentioned,  18,  62,  65,  72, 
85,  91,  177,  189,  190,  191,  192. 


INDEX. 


215 


Post  Office,  114. 
Pownal,  Gov.  Thom.as,  67. 
Pratt,  Chief-Juiitico,  70. 
Prayers,  public,  47. 
Press-gangr,  trial  of,  79. 
Preston,  Capt.,  trial  of,  82. 
Probate  buikling,  206,  209. 
Prorogation,  42. 
Province  House,  the,  91. 
Prytaneum  Bostoniense,  179. 

Quebec,  43. 
Queen  Anne,  41. 
Quelch,  Capt.  John,  42. 
Quincy,  JosLah,  Jr.,  87. 

Records,  17G. 

Re-dcilication,  17. 

Registry  of  Deeds,  45. 

Relics,  177. 

Representatives'  Hall,  37,  43,  52,  C2, 

63,  95,  98,  182,  185. 
Revolution  of  1688,  35. 
Rogers,  Isaiah,  112,  201,  203. 
Royal  Exchange  Tavern,  60. 
Royall,  Isaac,  178,   193. 
Russell,  Adm.,  portrait,  192,  194. 

Salmon,  Robert,  110,  115. 

Seal,  Colony,  146. 

Seat,  Boston,  192. 

Sewall,  Samuel,  extracts  from  diary 

of,    86,  37,  41,  42,  43,  46,  47,  48, 

49,  50,  51. 
Shaw's  History  of  Boston,  108. 
Shirley,  Gov.  William,  62. 
Shops,  32,  54,  107. 
Siege  of  Boston,  91. 
Snyder,  Christopher,  killed,  81. 
Speaker,  51,  52. 
Stair-way,  circular,  62,  159,  185,  202. 

to  gallery,  201,  202,  204. 
Stamp  Act  riots,  73,  75. 
State-street  riots,  81,  82. 
State  House,  old,  engravings  of,   10, 
11,  12,  13. 
founded,  23. 


State  House,  model,  28,  169. 

description  of  the  first, 

28,  29. 
paid  for,  30. 
tenants,  31,  32,  101,  103, 

110. 
head-quarters      against 

Andros,  35. 
used  by  Legislature,  37, 

94. 
council-chamber  in,  38, 
burnt  in  1711,  44. 
rebuilt,  45,  133-138. 
arrangement  of,  47,  50. 
public  sales  at,  forbid- 
den, 52. 
repaired,  54, 
riot  against  press-gangs, 

57. 
burnt  in  1747, 68,  59,  CO. 
described    in    1750,    by 

Goelet,  61. 
town  offices  in  Faneuil 

Hall,  60. 
described  in  1791,  63, 
refusal  to  clean,  67. 
described        by      John 

Adams,  70,  71. 
galleries  in,  76. 
troops  lodged  in,  78. 
injured        by       British 

troops,  91. 
repaired,  197. 
used  by  the  State,  94. 
peace  proclaimed  at,  94. 
Hancock  initalled  at,  94. 
Washington  received  at, 

95. 
described  in  1794,97,202. 
sold  to  the  town,  99. 
title  disputed,  100. 
title  settled,  102. 
described  in  1817,  108. 
described  in  1829,  109. 
slight  fire  in  1816,  107. 
injured  by  fire  in  1S25, 
111. 


216 


INDEX. 


State  House  used  as  City  Hall,  112. 
described  in  1838,  113. 
fire  in  1832,  115. 
leased     by    the     city, 

116. 
injured  by  alterations, 

116. 
restored  in  1881,  116. 
new,  97. 
Stove,  206. 

Subscribers  to  first  Town  House,  131- 
13?. 

Table  Council,  47. 
Tea  Party,  Boston,  89. 
Tenants,  100-110. 
Thanksgiving  Day,  1776,  94. 
Thompson  Family,  25. 
Topliff's  Newsroom,  114. 
Town  House,  174.      (_See,  also,  State 
House.') 

first,  129-133. 

rebuilt,  133-145. 
Town  meetings,  46. 


Trials,  49. 
Triumphal  Arch,  95. 
Troops  removed,  86. 

Views,  engraved,  notice  of,  10,  II,  12, 

13,  98. 
Voters,  26,  29,  42,  88. 

Waldo,  Gen.  Samuel,  66. 

Warren,  Admiral  Sir  Peter,  55,  66, 

183,  184,  194. 
Washburn,  William,  11-2. 
Washington,  George,  95. 

statue  of.  111. 
Watertown,  Legislature  at,  90. 
Whitmore,  Gen.  Edward,  69. 
Whitmore,  William  H.,  address  by, 
22. 
notes,  200-211. 
Wilder,  Marshall  P.,  address  by,  124. 
Willard,  Secretary,  letter  of,  59. 
Witchcraft,  trials,  39. 
Wolfe,  Gen.,  statue  of,  187. 
Writs  of  Assistance,  70,  72. 


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